On Quantum Cosmology of the <em>R</em>² Gravity Theory

Abstract

We study the minisuperspace quantization of the theory of gravity where an R 2 term is included in the Einstein Hilbert action. Matter is described by a perfect fluid and we employ the generally relativistic hydrodynamic formulation of Schutz. We set up the Wheeler-DeWitt equation and obtain its solutions. A finite norm wave packet solution is constructed and used to calculate asymptotic values for the expectation values of the scale factor and the Ricci scalar