Quantum Cosmology and the Arrow of Time

Abstract

Although most fundamental laws are invariant under time reversal, experience exhibits the presence of irreversible phenomena -- the arrows of time. Their origin lies in cosmology, and I argue that only quantum cosmology can provide the appropriate formal framework. After briefly reviewing the formalism, I discuss how a simple and natural boundary condition can lead to the observed arrows of time. This yields at the same time interesting consequences for black holes.Comment: 10 pages, contribution to the Proceedings of the conference DICE2004, Piombino, Italy, September 200