An effective gravity model and singularity avoidance in quantum FRW cosmologies

An effective formulation of gravity is discussed, which lies in between the Wheeler-DeWitt approach and that of classical cosmology. It has the virtue of naturally avoiding the singularity that appears in Friedman-Robertson-Walker cosmologies. The mechanism is made explicit in specific examples, where it is compared with the quantization provided by loop quantum cosmology. It is argued that it is the regularization of the classical Hamiltonian, performed in that theory, that avoids the singularity, rather than usually invoked quantum effects. However, a deeper study of the quantum nature of geometry in that framework should help to completely clarify the issue. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.