Introduction to Loop Quantum Cosmology, June 22 - June 24

This course is part of the 2026 Undergraduate Summer School curriculum. This course will provide a short introduction to loop quantum cosmology.  After a brief overview of the physics and geometry underlying cosmology, we will explore how it is possible to obtain a quantum description of cosmology.  As a part of this, we will discuss conceptual questions underlying quantum cosmology including the problem of time and the lack of an external observer, and some possible resolutions.  Finally, we will see how loop quantum gravity motivates a particular quantization for cosmology that gives loop quantum cosmology.  In the last part of the course, we will study the physics predicted by loop quantum cosmology in the primordial universe.