QUANTUM GEOMETRY AND THE BIG BANG

Loop quantum cosmology provides a new paradigm on the genesis of our universe in which the classical expanding branch is joined via a quantum geometric bridge to a classical contracting branch. The evolution between two phases of our universe is non-singular and deterministic, which is a direct manifestation of incorporating non-perturbative quantum geometric features of loop quantum gravity. Using analytical and numerical techniques, details of the quantum nature of big bang can be quantified and reliable physical predictions can be made. The quantum description can also be well approximated by an effective theory which leads to ρ2 modifications to the Friedmann equation in the Planck regime.