The Cosmic Gravitational Wave Background in a Cyclic Universe

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Cosmic Gravitational Wave Background in a Cyclic Universe The Cosmic Gravitational-Wave Background in a Cyclic Universe Latham A. Boyle1, Paul J. Steinhardt1, and Neil Turok2 1Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 2Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 OWA, United Kingdom (Dated: July 2003) Inflation predicts a primordial gravitational wave spectrum that is slightly “red,” i.e. nearly scale-invariant with slowly increasing power at longer wavelengths. In this paper, we compute both the amplitude and spectral form of the primordial tensor spectrum predicted by cyclic/ekpyrotic models. The spectrum is exponentially suppressed compared to inflation on long wavelengths, and the strongest constraint emerges from the requirement that the energy density in gravitational waves should not exceed around 10 per cent of the energy density at the time of nucleosynthesis. The recently-proposed cyclic model[1, 2] differs radi- V(φ) cally from standard inflationary cosmology [3, 4], while retaining the inflationary predictions of homogeneity, 4 5 φ 6 flatness, and nearly scale-invariant density perturbations. end It has been suggested that the cosmic gravitational wave 3 1 φ background provides the best experimental means for dis- tinguishing the two models. Inflation predicts a nearly 2 scale-invariant (slightly red) spectrum of primordial ten- sor perturbations, whereas the cyclic model predicts a blue spectrum.[1] The difference arises because inflation involves an early phase of hyper-rapid cosmic accelera- tion, whereas the cyclic model does not. In this paper, we compute the gravitational wave spec- trum for cyclic models to obtain both the normalization and spectral shape as a function of model parameters, im- V proving upon earlier heuristic estimates. We find that the end spectrum is strongly blue. The amplitude is too small to be observed by currently proposed detectors on all scales. Hence, the discovery of a stochastic background of grav- FIG. 1: Schematic of cyclic potential with numbers represent- itational waves would be evidence in favor of inflation, ing the stages described in the text. To the left of φend, where the scalar kinetic energy dominates, we approximate V with and would rule out the cyclic model. a Heaviside function, jumping to zero as shown by the dashed Readers unfamiliar with the cyclic model may consult line. [5] for an informal tour, and [6] for a recent analysis of arXiv:hep-th/0307170v1 18 Jul 2003 phenomenological constraints. Cyclic cosmology draws strongly on earlier ideas associated with the “ekpyrotic (2) φ intermediate and decreasing: the universe is dom- universe” scenario. [7, 8, 9] Briefly, the scenario can be inated by a combination of scalar kinetic and potential described in terms of the periodic collision of orbifold energy, leading to slow contraction and to the generation planes moving in an extra spatial dimension, or, equiv- of fluctuations; (3) φ negative and decreasing (beginning alently, in terms of a four-dimensional theory with an at conformal time τend < 0): the generation of fluctua- evolving (modulus) field φ rolling back and forth in an tions ends, φ rolls past φend and, in the four-dimensional effective potential V (φ). The field theory description is description, the universe contracts rapidly, dominated by the long wavelength approximation to the brane picture scalar field kinetic energy, to the bounce (τ = 0) at which in which the potential represents the interbrane interac- matter and radiation are generated; (4) φ increasing from tion and the modulus field determines the distance be- minus infinity: the universe remains dominated by scalar tween branes. For the purposes of this paper, the field field kinetic energy, which decreases rapidly compared to theoretic description is more useful. the radiation energy; (5) φ large and increasing (begin- The potential (Fig. 1) is small and positive for large φ, ning at τr > 0): the scalar field kinetic energy red-shifts falling steeply negative at intermediate φ, and increasing to a negligible value and the universe begins the radiation again for negative φ. Each cycle consists of the following dominated expanding phase; (6) φ large and nearly sta- stages: (1) φ large and decreasing: the universe expands tionary: the universe undergoes the transitions to matter at an accelerated rate as V (φ) > 0 acts as dark energy; and dark energy domination, and the cycle begins anew. 2 We model the scalar field potential as: THE PRIMORDIAL SPECTRUM, ∆h(k,τr) − V (φ)= V (1 e cφ/Mpl )Θ(φ φ ) (1) 0 − − end A quasi-stationary, isotropic, stochastic background of gravitational waves is characterized by the quantity where Mpl is the reduced Planck mass and Θ(φ) the ∆h(k, τ), the rms dimensionless strain per unit logarith- Heaviside step function. A potential of this form, with an mic wavenumber at time τ (i.e. the δL/L that would be exponentially steep form, is required by the cyclic model measured by a detector with sensitivity band centered on in order to produce an acceptable spectrum of cosmolog- mode k and bandwidth ∆k = k). Accounting for both ical perturbations. [2, 6] Choosing c = 10 for example polarizations, it is given by ∆h(k, τ) = k3/2 h (τ) /π, | k | results in a scalar spectral index ns = .96 which is com- where the Fourier amplitude hk(τ) satisfies patible with current constraints. The Heaviside function ′ marks the end of the steeply decreasing part of the poten- ′′ a ′ 2 hk +2 hk + k hk = 0 (7) tial; for φ < φend the potential is small and the universe a is dominated by scalar field kinetic energy. and the boundary condition that the solution approaches Our calculation begins in the “ekpyrotic phase,” stage the Minkowski vacuum at short distances (2), with the Einstein-frame scale factor contracting: e−ikτ α h (τ) as τ . (8) τ τek k a(τ)= a − , τ<τ , (2) → a(τ)Mpl√2k → −∞ end τ τ end end − ek To solve equation (7), it is useful to define fk(τ) 2 ≡ where α 2/(c 2) 1 and τek (1 2α)τend, being a(τ) hk(τ) and rewrite (7) as the conformal≡ time− the≪ potential would≡ − have diverged to ′′ minus infinity had the exponential form continued. At ′′ 2 a (fk) + (k )fk =0 . (9) τ = τend, the ekpyrotic phase ends and the “contracting − a kinetic phase,” stage (3), begins: During the ekpyrotic phase, a(τ) is given by (2), and the general solution of (9) is τ 1/2 a(τ)= − , τend <τ< 0 . (3) (1 + χ)τr (1) (2) fk(τ)= √y A1(k)Hn (y)+ A2(k)Hn (y) , (10) At τ = 0, the universe bounces and the “expanding ki- 1 netic phase,” stage (4), begins: where A1,2(k) are arbitrary constants, n 2 α, y (1,2) ≡ − ≡ k(τ τ ), and Hn are the Hankel functions. The − − ek τ 1/2 boundary condition (8) implies a(τ)= , 0 <τ<τ . (4) τ r r 1 π A (k)= , A (k)=0, (11) 1 2 k 2 Radiation is produced at the bounce, but is less than r the scalar kinetic energy until, at τ = τ , the expanding r where we have dropped a physically irrelevant phase. In kinetic phase ends, and standard radiation-dominated, the contracting kinetic phase, stage (4), a(τ) is given by matter-dominated, and dark-energy-dominated epochs (3), and the general solution of (9) is ensue. The transition times, τr and τend, are given by (1) (2) −1 fk(τ)=√ kτ B1(k)H0 ( kτ)+B2(k)H0 ( kτ) (12) τr = (√2Hr) , τend = τr/Γ, (5) − − − − where B1,2(k) are arbitrary constants. Then, continuity and ′ of hk and hk at τ = τend implies 1/3 τr 1 2α Vend Γ = , (6) iπ πα (2,1) (1) ≡ τ 1+ χ 1 2α H2M 2 B1,2(k) = xe H1 (xe)Hn (2αxe)+ end " − r pl !# ∓ 4 2k r h +H(2,1)(x )H(1) (2αx ) (13) where H H(τ ) is the Hubble constant at τ , V = 0 e n−1 e r ≡ r r end V (φend) is the depth of the potential at its minimum, i − where x k τ . Finally, in the expanding kinetic and χ 1 is a small positive constant that measures the e ≡ | end| amount≪ of radiation created at the bounce. Note that phase, a(τ) is given by (4), and the general solution of a(τ) and a′(τ) are both continuous at the transition time (9) is τ = τend, and we have chosen to normalize a(τ) to unity √ (1) (2) at the start of radiation domination (a(τr) = 1). fk(τ)= kτ C1(k)H0 (kτ)+ C2(k)H0 (kτ) . (14) 3 To fix C1,2(k), we need to match the solution across τ = log ∆h 0. At the level of quantum field theory in curved space- time, the choice is essentially unique[11], and amounts -2+ (n /2) k T to analytically continuing the positive (negative) fre- quency part of h f /a around the origin in the lower k ≡ k (1,2) -1+(n /2) (upper) half of the complex τ-plane, so H0 ( kτ) k T (2,1) − → inflati H0 (kτ). This yields − on α C (k)= 1+ χB (k) . (15) (1/2)+ 1,2 2,1 -1+α α k − k k p The pre-factor arises because a(τ) differs by a factor of cyclic √1+ χ between the kinetic contracting and expanding phases; see Eqs. (3) and (4). Combining our results, we arrive at the “primordial” dimensionless strain spectrum log k at the beginning of the radiation dominated epoch: ko keq kr kend 2 ∆h(k, τr) = (k /πMpl) 2(1 + χ )τr (1) (2) (16) B2(k)H0 (pxr)+ B1(k)H0 (xr) FIG.
Recommended publications
  • 30+ Commonly Held Concepts About Cosmology
    30+ Commonly held Concepts about Cosmology Big bang 1. The big bang is unavoidable, as proven by well-known “singularity theorems.” 2. Big bang nucleosynthesis, the successful theory of the formation of the elements, requires a big bang (as the name implies). 3. Extrapolating back in time, the universe must have reached a phase (the Planck epoch) in which quantum gravity effects dominate. 4. Time must have a beginning. 5. In an expanding universe, space expands but time does not. 6. The discovery that the expansion of the universe is accelerating today means that the universe will expand forever into the future. 7. There is no natural mechanism that could cause the universe to switch from its current cosmic acceleration to slow contraction. 8. With the exception of the bang, cosmology probes gravity in the weak coupling limit (in contrast with black hole collisions that probe gravity in the strong coupling limit). Smoothness, flatness and inflation 9. Inflation naturally explains why the universe is smooth (homogeneous), isotropic and flat. 10. You can understand how inflation flattens the universe by imagining an inflating balloon. The more it inflates, the flatter it gets. 11. Inflation is the only known cosmological mechanism for flattening the universe. 12. Inflation is proven because we observe the universe to be homogeneous, isotropic and flat. 13. Inflation is equivalent to a “nearly de Sitter” universe. 14. The parameters ns, r, / etc. extracted from the CMB measurements are “inflationary parameters.” 15. Inflation predicts a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of CMB temperature variations. 16. Inflation is the only mechanism for generating super-Hubble wavelength modes (which is essential for explaining the CMB).
    [Show full text]
  • Quantum Cosmic No-Hair Theorem and Inflation
    PHYSICAL REVIEW D 99, 103514 (2019) Quantum cosmic no-hair theorem and inflation † Nemanja Kaloper* and James Scargill Department of Physics, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA (Received 11 April 2018; published 13 May 2019) We consider implications of the quantum extension of the inflationary no-hair theorem. We show that when the quantum state of inflation is picked to ensure the validity of the effective field theory of fluctuations, it takes only Oð10Þ e-folds of inflation to erase the effects of the initial distortions on the inflationary observables. Thus, the Bunch-Davies vacuum is a very strong quantum attractor during inflation. We also consider bouncing universes, where the initial conditions seem to linger much longer and the quantum “balding” by evolution appears to be less efficient. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.99.103514 I. INTRODUCTION As we will explain, this is resolved by a proper Inflation is a simple and controllable framework for application of EFT to fluctuations. First off, the real describing the origin of the Universe. It relies on rapid vacuum of the theory is the Bunch-Davies state [2]. This cosmic expansion and subsequent small fluctuations follows from the quantum no-hair theorem for de Sitter described by effective field theory (EFT). Once the space, which selects the Bunch-Davies state as the vacuum slow-roll regime is established, rapid expansion wipes with UV properties that ensure cluster decomposition – out random and largely undesirable initial features of the [3 5]. The excited states on top of it obey the constraints – Universe, and the resulting EFT of fluctuations on the arising from backreaction, to ensure that EFT holds [6 14].
    [Show full text]
  • The Cyclic Model Simplified∗
    The Cyclic Model Simplified∗ Paul J. Steinhardt1;2 and Neil Turok3 1Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA 2 School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Olden Lane, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA 3 Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, U.K. (Dated: April 2004) The Cyclic Model attempts to resolve the homogeneity, isotropy, and flatness problems and gen- erate a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of fluctuations during a period of slow contraction that precedes a bounce to an expanding phase. Here we describe at a conceptual level the recent de- velopments that have greatly simplified our understanding of the contraction phase and the Cyclic Model overall. The answers to many past questions and criticisms are now understood. In partic- ular, we show that the contraction phase has equation of state w > 1 and that contraction with w > 1 has a surprisingly similar properties to inflation with w < −1=3. At one stroke, this shows how the model is different from inflation and why it may work just as well as inflation in resolving cosmological problems. I. THE CYCLIC MANIFESTO Two years ago, the Cyclic Model [1] was introduced as a radical alternative to the standard big bang/inflationary picture [2]. Its purpose is to offer a new solution to the homogeneity, isotropy, flatness problems and a new mechanism for generating a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of fluctuations. One might ask why we should consider an alternative when inflation [2{4] has scored so many successes in explaining a wealth of new, highly precise data [5].
    [Show full text]
  • Holographic Dark Energy in a Cyclic Universe
    中国科技论文在线 http://www.paper.edu.cn Eur. Phys. J. C 52, 693–699 (2007) DOI 10.1140/epjc/s10052-007-0408-2 THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C Regular Article – Theoretical Physics Holographic dark energy in a cyclic universe Jingfei Zhang1,a,XinZhang2,b, Hongya Liu1,c 1 School of Physics and Optoelectronic Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, P.R. China 2 Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics China, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KITPC/ITP-CAS), P.O. Box 2735, Beijing 100080, P.R. China Received: 28 July 2007 / Revised version: 11 August 2007 / Published online: 13 September 2007 − © Springer-Verlag / Societ`a Italiana di Fisica 2007 Abstract. In this paper we study the cosmological evolution of the holographic dark energy in a cyclic uni- verse, generalizing the model of holographic dark energy proposed by Li. The holographic dark energy with c<1 can realize a quintom behavior; namely, it evolves from a quintessence-like component to a phantom- like one. The holographic phantom energy density grows rapidly and dominates the late-time expanding phase, helping to realize a cyclic universe scenario in which the high energy regime is modified by the effects of quantum gravity, causing a turn-around (and a bounce) of the universe. The dynamical evolution of holo- graphic dark energy in the regimes of low energy and high energy is governed by two differential equations, respectively. It is of importance to link the two regimes for this scenario. We propose a link condition giving rise to a complete picture of holographic evolution of a cyclic universe.
    [Show full text]
  • Dark Energy: Acceleration of the Universe with Variable Gravitational Mass
    2nd World Summit on Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe Guadeloupe islands, University of Antilles, Fouillole, 28 June 2018 Dark energy: Acceleration of the Universe with Variable Gravitational Mass Nick Gorkavyi, Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, MD, USA [email protected] Gorkavyi, N. & Vasilkov, A. A repulsive force in the Einstein theory. Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 461, 2929-2933 (2016) Gorkavyi, N. & Vasilkov, A. A modified Friedman equation for a system with varying gravitational mass. Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 476, 1384-1389 (2018) Bouncing cosmology in the XX century (1946-1980) New nucleus+ Nucleus+CMB radiation Baryons+gamma radiation CMB radiation ~3*1010 K CMB radiation CMB radiation ~ 3K Big ~ 3K Bang Rmin~5 ly R~50 billion ly Rcurrent~50 billion ly Peebles P.J.E. “Principles of Physical Cosmology” 1993, p.141: “Let us extrapolate the expansion of the universe back to redshift z~1010, when the temperature was T~3*1010K, and the characteristic photon energy was ~ kT ~3Mev. At this epoch, the CBR photons are hard enough to photodissociate complex nuclei, leaving free neutrons and protons”. -10 1+z=Rcurrent/ Rmin so Rmin ~ Rcurrent*10 2 Bouncing cosmology in the XX century (1946-1980) Gamow G. (1953): “Why was our universe in such a highly compressed state, and why did it start expanding? The simplest… way of answering these questions would be to say that the Big Squeeze which took place in the early history of our universe… and that the present expansion is simply an “elastic” rebound”. Dicke R.H., Peebles P.J.E., Roll P.G., Wilkinson D.T.
    [Show full text]
  • Václav Vavrycuk1, Jana Zd'árská2 Cosmic Microwave B
    Conference Cosmology on Small Scales 2020 Michal Kˇr´ıˇzekand Yurii Dumin (Eds.) Institute of Mathematics CAS, Prague COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND AS THERMAL RADIATION OF INTERGALACTIC DUST? V´aclav Vavryˇcuk1, Jana Zd’´arsk´aˇ 2 1Institute of Geophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences Boˇcn´ı2, CZ-141 00 Prague 4, Czech Republic [email protected] 2Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences Na Slovance 2, CZ-182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic [email protected] Abstract: This paper is an interview about an alternative theory of evolution of the Universe with dr. V´aclav Vavryˇcuk from the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Keywords: Olbers’ paradox, adiabatic expansion, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, thermal radiation PACS: 98.80.-k Cosmic microwave background (CMB) is a strong and uniform radiation coming from the Universe from all directions and is assumed to be relic radiation arising shortly after the Big Bang. It is the most important source of knowledge about the early Universe and is intensively studied by astrophysicists. Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson (see Figure 1) received the Nobel Prize in 1978 for the CMB discovery and George Smoot and John Mather received the Nobel Prize in 2006 for a discovery of the CMB anisotropy. In this interview, we talk with dr. V´aclav Vavryˇcuk from the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences about another possi- ble origin of the CMB, and we debate how this alternative theory could affect the currently accepted cosmological model. Jana Zd’´arsk´a:ˇ Most astrophysicists and cosmologists consider the cosmic microwave background (CMB) as relic radiation originating in the epoch shortly after the Big Bang.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyclic Models of the Relativistic Universe: the Early History
    1 Cyclic models of the relativistic universe: the early history Helge Kragh* Abstract. Within the framework of relativistic cosmology oscillating or cyclic models of the universe were introduced by A. Friedmann in his seminal paper of 1922. With the recognition of evolutionary cosmology in the 1930s this class of closed models attracted considerable interest and was investigated by several physicists and astronomers. Whereas the Friedmann-Einstein model exhibited only a single maximum value, R. Tolman argued for an endless series of cycles. After World War II, cyclic or pulsating models were suggested by W. Bonnor and H. Zanstra, among others, but they remained peripheral to mainstream cosmology. The paper reviews the development from 1922 to the 1960s, paying particular attention to the works of Friedmann, Einstein, Tolman and Zanstra. It also points out the role played by bouncing models in the emergence of modern big-bang cosmology. Although the general idea of a cyclic or oscillating universe goes back to times immemorial, it was only with the advent of relativistic cosmology that it could be formulated in a mathematically precise way and confronted with observations. Ever since Alexander Friedmann introduced the possibility of a closed cyclic universe in 1922, it has continued to attract interest among a minority of astronomers and physicists. At the same time it has been controversial and widely seen as speculative, in part because of its historical association with an antireligious world view. According to Steven Weinberg, “the oscillating model … nicely avoids the problem of Genesis” and may be considered philosophically appealing for that reason (Weinberg 1977: 154).
    [Show full text]
  • Does History Repeat Itself? Periodic Time Cosmology
    Prepared for submission to JCAP Does History Repeat Itself? Periodic Time Cosmology Elizabeth Goulda;b;c Niayesh Afshordib;c;d aThe McDonald Institute and Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2S8, Canada bDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada cPerimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, 31 Caroline St. N., Waterloo, ON, N2L 2Y5, Canada dWaterloo Centre for Astrophysics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract. It has been suggested that the cosmic history might repeat in cycles, with an infinite series of similar aeons in the past and the future. Here, we instead propose that the cosmic history repeats itself exactly, constructing a universe on a periodic temporal history, which we call Periodic Time Cosmology. In particular, the primordial power spectrum, con- volved with the transfer function throughout the cosmic history, would form the next aeon’s primordial power spectrum. By matching the big bang to the infinite future using a con- formal rescaling (a la Penrose), we uniquely determine the primordial power spectrum, in terms of the transfer function up to two free parameters. While nearly scale invariant with a red tilt on large scales, using Planck and Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation observations, we find the minimal model is disfavoured compared to a power-law power spectrum at 5:1σ. However, extensions of ΛCDM cosmic history change the large scale transfer function and can provide better relative fits to the data. For example, the best fit seven parameter model for our Periodic Time Cosmology, with w = −1:024 for dark energy equation of state, is only disfavoured relative to a power-law power spectrum (with the same number of parameters) at 1:8σ level.
    [Show full text]
  • Gravitational Waves and the Early Universe
    Gravitational Waves and the Early Universe Latham A. Boyle A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Princeton University in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Recommended for Acceptance by the Department of Physics November, 2006 c Copyright 2006 by Latham A. Boyle. All rights reserved. Abstract Can we detect primordial gravitational waves (i.e. tensor perturbations)? If so, what will they teach us about the early universe? These two questions are central to this two part thesis. First, in chapters 2 and 3, we compute the gravitational wave spectrum produced by inflation. We argue that if inflation is correct, then the scalar spectral index ns should satisfy ns 0.98; and if ns satisfies 0.95 ns 0.98, then the tensor-to-scalar ratio r should satisfy r 0.01. This means that, if inflation is correct, then primordial gravitational waves are likely to be detectable. We compute in detail the “tensor transfer function” Tt(k, τ) which relates the tensor power spectrum at two different times τ1 and τ2,and the “tensor extrapolation function” Et(k, k∗) which relates the primordial tensor power spectrum at two different wavenumbers k and k∗. By analyzing these two expressions, we show that inflationary gravitational waves should yield crucial clues about inflation itself, and about the “primordial dark age” between the end of inflation and the start of big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN). Second, in chapters 4 and 5, we compute the gravitational wave spectrum produced by the cyclic model. We examine a surprising duality relating expanding and contracting cos- mological models that generate the same spectrum of gauge-invariant Newtonian potential fluctuations.
    [Show full text]
  • Gravitational Waves
    Petjades en el llarg camí vers la comprensió de l’Univers Descobriment de les ones gravitacionals Emili Elizalde National Higher Research Council of Spain Institut de Ciències de l’Espai (ICE/CSIC) Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC) Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Conferència AASCV, 29 Maig 2014 Ciència • Observació de la natura, exp. laboratori – No és suficient • Teoria científica – No és suficient Observacions + Teoria Comprensió de l’Univers ! »Il libro della natura é scritto in lingua matematica» Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Mm F=G r 2 2 Isaac Newton (1642–1727) E = mc 1 Albert Einstein (1879-1955) − = − 8πG Rµν g µν R−λg µν T µν 2 c4 Ω = Ω + Ω + Ω + Ω tot r m k λ Big Bang “Condició primigènia en la qual existien unes condicions d'una infinita densitat i temperatura” [Wikipedia CAT] “At some moment all matter in the universe was contained in a single point” [Wikipedia] Georges Lemaître (1894-1966) Teoria, 1931: Sol·lució (de Friedmann) de les Eqs d’Einstein Observacions: V. Slipher redshifts + E. Hubble distàncies "hypothèse de l'atome primitif" àtom primigeni, ou còsmic Evidències del Big Bang: • L'expansió d'acord amb la llei de Hubble • Radiació còsmica de fons (CMB) 1964 A Penzias i R Wilson WS Adams i T Dunham Jr 37-41 ; G Gamow 48; RA Alpher, RC Herman 49 • Abundància dels elements primordials heli-4, heli-3, deuteri, liti-7 • Evolució i distribució de les galàxies • Núvols de gas primordials quasars distants • Detecció d’ones gravitacionals primordials 17 Març 2014 Alternatives: Steady State theory: James Jeans,1920s, conjectured a steady state cosmology based on a hypothesized continuous creation of matter in the universe.
    [Show full text]
  • Cosmic Evolution in a Cyclic Universe
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by CERN Document Server Cosmic Evolution in a Cyclic Universe Paul J. Steinhardt1 and Neil Turok2 1Joseph Henry Laboratories, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA 2DAMTP, CMS, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge, CB3 0WA, UK Based on concepts drawn from the ekpyrotic scenario and M-theory, we elab- orate our recent proposal of a cyclic model of the Universe. In this model, the Universe undergoes an endless sequence of cosmic epochs which begin with the Universe expanding from a ‘big bang’ and end with the Universe contracting to a ‘big crunch.’ Matching from ‘big crunch’ to ‘big bang’ is per- formed according to the prescription recently proposed with Khoury, Ovrut and Seiberg. The expansion part of the cycle includes a period of radiation and matter domination followed by an extended period of cosmic accelera- tion at low energies. The cosmic acceleration is crucial in establishing the flat and vacuous initial conditions required for ekpyrosis and for removing the entropy, black holes, and other debris produced in the preceding cycle. By restoring the Universe to the same vacuum state before each big crunch, the acceleration insures that the cycle can repeat and that the cyclic solution is an attractor. PACS number(s): 11.25.-w,04.50.+h, 98.80.Cq,98.80.-k 1 1 Introduction In a recent paper,1 we introduced the possibility of a cyclic Universe, a cos- mology in which the Universe undergoes a periodic sequence of expansion and contraction. Each cycle begins with a “big bang” and ends in a “big crunch,” only to emerge in a big bang once again.
    [Show full text]
  • Astro2020 Science White Paper Probing the Origin of Our Universe Through Cosmic Microwave Background Constraints on Gravitational Waves
    Astro2020 Science White Paper Probing the origin of our Universe through cosmic microwave background constraints on gravitational waves Thematic Areas: Planetary Systems Star and Planet Formation Formation and Evolution of Compact Objects X Cosmology and Fundamental Physics Stars and Stellar Evolution Resolved Stellar Populations and their Environments Galaxy Evolution Multi-Messenger Astronomy and Astrophysics Principal Author: Name: Sarah Shandera Institution: The Pennsylvania State University Email: [email protected] Phone: (814)863-9595 Co-authors: Peter Adshead1, Mustafa Amin2, Emanuela Dimastrogiovanni3, Cora Dvorkin4, Richard Easther5, Matteo Fasiello6, Raphael Flauger7, John T. Giblin, Jr8, Shaul Hanany9, Lloyd Knox10, Eugene Lim11, Liam McAllister12, Joel Meyers13, Marco Peloso14, Graca Rocha15, Maresuke Shiraishi16, Lorenzo Sorbo17, Scott Watson18 1Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA 2 Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA 3 University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia 3 University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia 4 Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA 5 University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand 6 Institute of Cosmology & Gravitation, University of Portsmouth, Dennis Sciama Building, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3FX, UK 7 University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 8 arXiv:1903.04700v1 [astro-ph.CO] 12 Mar 2019 Department of Physics, Kenyon College, 201 N College Rd, Gambier, OH 43022 9 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 10 University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616 11 King’s College London, WC2R 2LS London, United Kingdom 12 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 13 Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275 14 Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “G.
    [Show full text]