An exactly solvable model of quantum cosmology: the Hydrogen atom analogy with dust and Cosmological constant

Abstract: We study the Wheeler-DeWitt quantization of a spatially flat Friedmann-Lema^itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe with pressureless dust (modeled via the Brown-Kucha\v{r} formalism) and a dynamical cosmological constant $\Lambda$ treated in the unimodular gravity framework, where unimodular time serves as a relational clock. Remarkably, the quantum dynamics of this system exhibit a mathematical correspondence to a non-relativistic hydrogen atom -- $\Lambda$ maps to energy eigenvalues, the volume variable to the radial coordinate, and the dust energy density parameter to the Coulomb potential strength. This analogy yields a continuous spectrum for positive $\Lambda$, analogous to scattering states. For $\Lambda > 0$, we prove the self-adjointness of the unimodular Hamiltonian, guaranteeing unitary evolution in unimodular time. By constructing wave packets from normalized stationary states, we demonstrate a quantum bounce that resolves the classical Big Bang singularity. The dynamics transition from semiclassical behavior far from the bounce to quantum-dominated regions featuring characteristic "ringing" oscillations due to interference near the bounce. We quantify quantum effects through expectation values and fluctuations of cosmological observables, finding evidence for persistent quantum effects in the late universe. Thus our results suggest that quantum gravitational effects may leave imprints on late-time cosmology, even beyond the bounce.