The Big Event / Inflation

The universe began with a tiny singular point. And after about 10^-36 seconds, the universe started to grow vigorously. Within
0.0000000000000000000000099 (10^-34) seconds, it is said to have expanded at least
1000000000000000000000000000000 (10^30), and maximum of
10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 (10^100). In less than the time it takes to blink, the universe expanded from the unseen to the size of 10^57 light years of the universe. This amazing, violent expansion of the universe is called inflation. Inflation in English simply means getting larger in size, but in physics, it talks about the rapid universe expansion immediately after the big bang. This inflation theory was developed in order to answer the horizon problem that could not be explained by the Big Bang theory.

Horizon Problem

We can only observe the distance where the light can reach. This area visible is called the horizon of universe. As the time goes by, there will be light arriving from farther places, so the horizon must be growing in size each year. Of course, this only happens if the expansion speed of the universe today has not exceeded the light speed.Well, let's keep that in mind and think about the horizon problem.

Nothing we have observed until now is faster than light speed. This suggests that the fastest way of transferring information is by light. Between two points that are separating from each other, if their speed exceeds light speed, they will not be able to transmit information.

We said that the area we can see now is the horizon. Let's call the present area of the horizon as "A," and imagine area A in the time 10^-35 seconds after the birth of universe. 10^-35 seconds is the time before the inflation begins. At this moment, the area that light can travel, (that is the area where the exchange of information can take place) is 3 times 10^-25 cm (this is the calculation of light speed multiplied by time). This size is smaller than a proton that forms an atomic nucleus which is 10 thousandth of one oxygen molecule that forms 35 trillion water particle in 1 billionth of 1cc water.

On the other hand, in the anti-inflation theory, which does not consider inflation, the area of after 10^-35 seconds is about 20 cm. In this case, the whole of area A is not used for information exchange, so area A does not necessarily have the same temperature or density within the area. However recent research indicates that the universe (if you look in a large scale of several million light years) has an environment with same density and same temperature anywhere, and everywhere.

This difference in measurement is the horizon problem. In the inflation theory, a very small area expanded tremendously, and at 10^-35 seconds, its size is 3 times 10^-25 cm, so it makes sense.

False Vacuum and True Vacuum

We will talk about the vacuum. If we say "vacuum," you would imagine a space where nothing exists. This is correct in a way, but actually, not right. Even if there is no matter, the space can contain energy. This space is called a false vacuum. Of course, the vacuum in which nothing exists and which holds only a minimum of energy is called a true vacuum.

The Reason for Inflation

Now, various matter exists in the universe to form stars and all matter, including us. But in the beginning, the universe had an energy only as a form of vacuum energy. This false vacuum dispersed energy and eventually became a true vacuum. This saved energy accelerated the expansion of the universe and caused inflation.

List of Related links

[Add to the Related Links]

• Static and Dynamic Relativity - This page explains whether atoms expand in sizewhile Universe expands.If you want to know more about this topic,let's go! (Change and Delete)
• The Shrinking Matter Hypothesis - This page talks about an "alternative Interpretation of Relativistic Length Contraction." This article may interest those who are interested in studying inflation. There are some exciting calculations too! (Change and Delete)
• Italian personal webpage on cosmology. - Luca explains about Early Universe, inflation and large-scale structure. (Change and Delete)
• Horizon problem - What is a 'light horizon' and does this mean there are things in the universe permanently hidden from us? (Change and Delete)
• Inflation - Various aspects of problems concerning inflation. (Change and Delete)

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• Test - Ikuya Yamada (Administrator) 08/19/99 02:55:29 - [Others] (0)