Comments on: Putting the Heat in the Hot Big Bang http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:28:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Results of Resonance | Cosmic Variance | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-53919 The Results of Resonance | Cosmic Variance | Discover Magazine Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:31:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-53919 [...] I discussed a couple of weeks back, if inflation is the correct description of the very early universe, then [...] [...] I discussed a couple of weeks back, if inflation is the correct description of the very early universe, then [...]

]]> By: The Pale Scot http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-50489 The Pale Scot Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:19:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-50489 Thnxs. Thnxs.

]]> By: Sean http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-50347 Sean Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:55:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-50347 It's better to think of it as the latter: space itself is expanding. But it's not completely unambiguous; see here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/06/does-space-expand/ It’s better to think of it as the latter: space itself is expanding. But it’s not completely unambiguous; see here:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/06/does-space-expand/

]]> By: The Pale Scot http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-50346 The Pale Scot Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:29:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-50346 May I be allowed to ask a dumb question that I have never been able to find a specific answer to? This seems a good forum for it. When you say "the universe is expanding" does it mean that galaxies are traveling thru the fabric of space-time away from each other? Or is the space-time fabric itself expanding and carrying matter along with it? Thank you, I find this stuff fascinating, and a answer to this would setttle some ideas rattling around in my mind. May I be allowed to ask a dumb question that I have never been able to find a specific answer to? This seems a good forum for it.

When you say “the universe is expanding” does it mean that galaxies are traveling thru the fabric of space-time away from each other? Or is the space-time fabric itself expanding and carrying matter along with it?

Thank you, I find this stuff fascinating, and a answer to this would setttle some ideas rattling around in my mind.

]]> By: Sven http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-49436 Sven Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:52:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-49436 Re Steve: I have written a paper on exactly this topic just recently (and believe it to be the working mechanism behind gravity; but "london dispersion force", who comes up with these names?), however to play Devil's Advocate: If you research electron orbitals you will find constant assertions that electrons don't orbit the nucleus like planets orbit a star, but rather that they 'hover' (for lack of a better word) in a probability field surrounding the nucleus depending on the number of electrons and degree of atomic excitation. Needless to say, given this orthodox theory of electron clouds, how would one justify "london dispersion force"? If you want a copy of my paper, drop me a line @ sven.gelbhaar@gmail.com Re Steve:

I have written a paper on exactly this topic just recently (and believe it to be the working mechanism behind gravity; but “london dispersion force”, who comes up with these names?), however to play Devil’s Advocate:

If you research electron orbitals you will find constant assertions that electrons don’t orbit the nucleus like planets orbit a star, but rather that they ‘hover’ (for lack of a better word) in a probability field surrounding the nucleus depending on the number of electrons and degree of atomic excitation. Needless to say, given this orthodox theory of electron clouds, how would one justify “london dispersion force”?

If you want a copy of my paper, drop me a line @ sven.gelbhaar@gmail.com

]]> By: Steve http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-49218 Steve Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:16:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-49218 I have a question about gravity. Do you think London dispersion forces have anything to do with gravity? Could gravity be accounted for by vast numbers of molecules attracting other molecules with slight polarity? I only ask because we are learning about the intermolecular forces now and the London dispersion force seems similar to gravity in a few key areas like they both are weak, the more massive the stronger the pull, and everything contains both gravity and London dispersion. Thanks for any thought on the matter. I have a question about gravity. Do you think London dispersion forces have anything to do with gravity? Could gravity be accounted for by vast numbers of molecules attracting other molecules with slight polarity? I only ask because we are learning about the intermolecular forces now and the London dispersion force seems similar to gravity in a few key areas like they both are weak, the more massive the stronger the pull, and everything contains both gravity and London dispersion. Thanks for any thought on the matter.

]]> By: Pre-turkey vacation day… « blueollie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-49212 Pre-turkey vacation day… « blueollie Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:41:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-49212 [...] here is an article on the future of the universe. Does the universe end “hot” or “cold”? Does it begin either [...] [...] here is an article on the future of the universe. Does the universe end “hot” or “cold”? Does it begin either [...]

]]> By: Lawrence Crowell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-49207 Lawrence Crowell Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:51:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-49207 It is fun to take the FLRW spacetime and a Higgs-like field, couple the spacetime to this field and then numerically run them on a computer. It takes a little study of the literature to set this up. With a bit of programming and running the model the outcome of the inflation is not dependent (or heavily so) on the initial conditions you set up in the numerical simulation. One can show this even if you put some Legendre series of inhomegeneities in the metric. The flatness problem appears to be largely solved this way. Inflation irons out most nonuniformities, which we might assign to initial or early data. It seems to me that the heating which occurs with inflation corrsponds in some way to the existence of a cosmological horizon. That horizon is likely some region which decoheres fields, just as black holes emit thermalized radiation. This all points to physics or cosmology concerning the origin of thermodynamics. Lawrence B. Crowell It is fun to take the FLRW spacetime and a Higgs-like field, couple the spacetime to this field and then numerically run them on a computer. It takes a little study of the literature to set this up. With a bit of programming and running the model the outcome of the inflation is not dependent (or heavily so) on the initial conditions you set up in the numerical simulation. One can show this even if you put some Legendre series of inhomegeneities in the metric. The flatness problem appears to be largely solved this way. Inflation irons out most nonuniformities, which we might assign to initial or early data.

It seems to me that the heating which occurs with inflation corrsponds in some way to the existence of a cosmological horizon. That horizon is likely some region which decoheres fields, just as black holes emit thermalized radiation. This all points to physics or cosmology concerning the origin of thermodynamics.

Lawrence B. Crowell

]]> By: td http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-49204 td Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:31:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-49204 Interesting, I could be making an incorrect assumption but you seem to be implying at the end that dark energy could be a non-equilibrium mode of the inflaton potential?? Is there a paper on this anywhere ? It sounds quite neat. Interesting, I could be making an incorrect assumption but you seem to be implying at the end that dark energy could be a non-equilibrium mode of the inflaton potential?? Is there a paper on this anywhere ? It sounds quite neat.

]]> By: Louise http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/comment-page-1/#comment-49199 Louise Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:34:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/11/24/putting-the-heat-in-the-hot-big-bang/#comment-49199 The controversy over inflation is very interesting! I would like to hear you discuss inflation vs. the alternatives, like varying the speed of light or the GM=tc^3 theory. Non-gaussianity in the CMB would be a subject that CV could well explain to the readers. The controversy over inflation is very interesting! I would like to hear you discuss inflation vs. the alternatives, like varying the speed of light or the GM=tc^3 theory. Non-gaussianity in the CMB would be a subject that CV could well explain to the readers.

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