Exploring the Universe Before the Big Bang
Understanding the Concept of Inflation
Inflation is a key concept in cosmology, but it raises an intriguing question: What existed before it? While no experiment can currently observe the pre-inflation universe, mathematicians are using Einstein’s general theory of relativity to explore possible scenarios. This theory links gravity with the curvature of space-time, allowing researchers to delve as far back in time as possible.
Research Efforts and Findings
Three researchers—Ghazal Geshnizjani from the Perimeter Institute, Eric Ling from the University of Copenhagen, and Jerome Quintin from the University of Waterloo—have recently published a paper on this topic. They explored whether mathematical techniques could bypass the singularity identified in the BGV theorem, which marks the start of inflation.
Eliminating the Singularity
The researchers found that if the amount of matter is negligible compared to dark energy, the singularity can be eliminated.
“Light rays can actually go through the boundary,” Quintin said. “And in that sense, you can see beyond the boundary; it’s not like a brick wall.”
This suggests that the universe’s history could extend beyond the Big Bang.
Challenges with Matter-Dominated Early Universe
However, cosmologists believe the early universe had more matter than energy. In this scenario, the BGV singularity would be a real physical curvature singularity, where the laws of gravity cease to apply.
Implications for Physics
A singularity indicates that general relativity might not fully describe the fundamental rules of physics. Reconciling general relativity with quantum mechanics is an ongoing effort. Ling views their paper as a step towards this goal, stating,
“we first need to understand classical physics as well as we can.”
Original story reprinted with permission from Quanta Magazine, an editorially independent publication of the Simons Foundation whose mission is to enhance public understanding of science by covering research developments and trends in mathematics and the physical and life sciences.
2 Comments
Maybe there wasn’t a “before” because time as we know it might have started with the Big Bang!
Sapphireb: What if the universe is in an endless cycle of bangs and crunches?