Quantum mechanics before the big bang in heterotic-M-theory
  In this letter we investigate the role played by quantum mechanics before the big-bang in heterotic-M-theory assuming an orbifold compactification of time. As we will see particles are localized around a black hole but only in regions where a constructive quantum interference takes place. We infer that the creation of this interference pattern is interesting for many reasons: (A) it is a mechanism to localize particles on $S^4$ branes; (B) the Casimir potential for the dilaton can be interpreted as a gravitational effective potential for a two-body problem; (C) the quantum interference is a new way to define the branes in heterotic-M-theory. Remarkably, a modified Schroedinger equation is obtained. The stabilization of the branes' position is related to the absence of a cosmological singularity. 
Andrea Zanzi
hep-th quant-ph