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Exploring the Fabric of Space-Time: From Quantum Fluctuations to the Age of the Universe

Delve into the profound mysteries of space-time and cosmology, as we explore concepts from Mark Twain's reflections on the stars to advanced theories in quantum mechanics. This discourse covers the nature of time and space in the universe, from the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and quantum fluctuations to the expansion of the universe and the effects of dark energy. With insights into cosmological constants, the possibility of multiverses, and the age of the universe, this journey invites readers to ponder the essence of existence and the fabric that intertwines all realities.

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Exploring the Fabric of Space-Time: From Quantum Fluctuations to the Age of the Universe

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  1. Comet Lemmon

  2. AST101Before the Beginningand other Imponderables

  3. "We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened. Jim he allowed they was made, but I allowed they happened; I judged it would have took too long to make so many. Jim said the moon could a laid them; well, that looked kind of reasonable, so I didn't say nothing against it, because I've seen a frog lay most as many, so of course it could be done."Mark Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

  4. The Fabric of Space-Time • A 4-dimensional space • We perceive time differently than the 3 spatial dimensions • Our velocity in space-time is c • Distances in space-time: D=√[x2+y2+z2-(ct)2]

  5. The Fabric of Space-Time • Space-time is warped by gravity

  6. The Fabric of Space-Time • On large scales, space-time appears smooth • On quantum scales, space-time is probably granular • Planck length: 10-35 cm • Planck time: 10-43 sec

  7. Quantum Fluctuations • Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle: ΔE Δt ≥ 6.6 x 10-27 erg sec • You can “borrow” an amount of energy ΔE, so long as you return it within a time Δt • If ΔE exceeds 2mc2, you can create a particle-antiparticle pair of mass m • These virtual particles have been confirmed in laboratory experiments (this is also why black holes evaporate)

  8. Quantum Fluctuations • If the universe is flat, the net energy (kinetic - potential) is zero. • If ΔE = 0, Δt can be very large and still satisfy the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle,ΔE Δt ≥ 6.6 x 10-27 erg sec • Is the universe a quantum fluctuation?

  9. What Was Before the Big Bang? "Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.” Ludwig Wittgenstein

  10. Are We at the Center? • Everything is moving away from every point in the universe

  11. Are We at the Center?

  12. What is the Age of the Universe? • In an empty universe, T = 1/H0 • In a flat matter-dominated universe with Λ=0, T=2/3 1/H0 • Current best estimate: T=13.7 ±0.2 Gyr

  13. The Oldest Stars • Extreme population II • Metallicities about 10-4 solar • Dated by • evolutionary models • Radioactive decay • ~13.5 Gyr

  14. The Furthest Reaches sn97cj

  15. The Furthest Reaches

  16. Finding Distant SNe Ia

  17. Where the Universe is Going

  18. Ω • ΩB = 0.04 (baryons) • ΩDM = 0.23 (dark matter) • Ω=1 (the universe is flat) • Therefore, ΩΛ ~ 0.7 (dark energy) The universe is now dominated by ΩΛ

  19. The Cosmological Constant • Solutions to Einstein’s GR equations do not allow for a static universe that contains matter. • Einstein added a constant of integration, the Cosmological Constant (λ) to make the universe static • Then Hubble found the universe was expanding • Einstein called λ “my biggest mistake” • Now it is back…

  20. What is the Size of the Universe? • Observable universe: ~cT = 13.7 Gly • But we see those objects as they were • Today they are about 46 Gly distant • Unobservable universe: at least 20 times larger ``Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is.'' - Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

  21. Other Universes • String Theory • An attempt to derive the universe • The Standard Model has 26 parameters • Multiverse • String Theory has ~ 10500 solutions • Many Worlds hypothesis • Weird quantum mechanics

  22. Reference http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/cosmolog.htm

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