Flat Space Cosmology as a Mathematical Model of Quantum Gravity or Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

We review here the recent success in modeling our expanding universe according to the rules of flat space cosmology. Given only a few basic and reasonable assumptions and a single observational input, our model derives a variety of results which correlate with astronomical observations, including best estimates of the size, total mass, temperature, age and expansion rate of our observable universe. Considering the apparent success of our model, we attempt to explain why we think it works so well, including the fact that it incorporates elements of both general relativity and quantum mechanics. We offer this approach as a possible avenue towards understanding cosmology at the quantum level (“quantum gravity”).