Quantum Instability of the Emergent Universe
  We perform a semi-classical analysis of the Emergent Universe scenario for
inflation. Fixing the background, and taking the inflaton to be homogenous, we
cast the inflaton's evolution as a one-dimensional quantum mechanics problem.
We find that the tuning required over a long time scale for this inflationary
scenario is unstable quantum mechanically. Considering the inflaton field value
as a wavepacket, the spreading of the wavepacket destroys any chance of both
starting and ending with a well-formed state. Thus, one cannot have an Einstein
static universe to begin with that evolves into a well-defined beginning to
inflation a long time later.
