Posted on 08/04/2006 4:26:21 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
The question of what happened before the Big Bang long has frustrated cosmologists, both amateur and professional.
Though Einstein's theory of general relativity does an excellent job of describing the universe almost back to its beginning, near the Big Bang matter becomes so dense that relativity breaks down, says Penn State physicist Abhay Ashtekar. "Beyond that point, we need to apply quantum tools that were not available to Einstein."
Now Ashtekar and two of his post-doctoral researchers, Tomasz Pawlowski and Parmpreet Singh, have done just that. Using a theory called loop quantum gravity, they have developed a mathematical model that skates right up to the Big Bang -- and steps through it. On the other side, Ashtekar says, exists another universe with space-time geometry similar to our own, except that instead of expanding, it is shrinking. "In place of a classical Big Bang, there is in fact a quantum Bounce," he says.
Loop quantum gravity, one of the leading approaches to the unification of general relativity with quantum physics, was pioneered at the Institute of Gravitational Physics and Geometry at Penn State, which Ashtekar directs. The theory posits that space-time geometry itself has a discrete "atomic" structure, Ashtekar explains. Instead of the familiar space-time continuum, the fabric of space is made up of one-dimensional quantum threads. Near the Big Bang, this fabric is violently torn, and these quantum properties cause gravity to become repulsive, rather than attractive.
While the idea of another universe existing prior to the Big Bang has been proposed before, he adds, this is the first mathematical description that systematically establishes its existence and deduces its space-time geometry.
"Our initial work assumes a homogenous model of our universe," Ashtekar acknowledges. "However, it has given us confidence in the underlying ideas of loop quantum gravity. We will continue to refine the model to better portray the universe as we know it and to better understand the features of quantum gravity."
***
Abhay Ashtekar is holder of the Eberly family chair in physics and director of the Institute for Gravitational Physics and Geometry in the Eberly College of Science. He can be reached at ava1@psu.edu.
The finding reported above was published in Physical Review Letters in May 2006. The research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the Penn State Eberly College of Science.
I would expect so. His "emotional intelligence quotient" is clearly in the rarified strata of the high end, possibly even five sigma.
'Friday nite fights' placemarker...
The "Big Splat" lacks elan.
With Gravity, The Force is always with you.
My religious convictions have no bearing on the discussion and your request is nothing more than an effort to regain the initiative now that you've discovered you have nothing of substance to contribute to this discussion.
You missed my go-round last night.
I got kind of mean -- I don't want to do that again.
I was babysitting data conversion jobs all night, so I was a little snarky. I apologized to the guy later, so I hope all is OK.
If I get snarkier than usual, please let me know. I have a mssive sleep debt (2 hours of sleep in the last 48)
A place where Metric works much much better than the English system.
See my post #245 -- I came to the same conclusion over two hours ago!
Actually I have missed a lot of things on FR, in the last few days...been too busy taking care of the sick hubby(his latest trip to the oral surgeon took its toll)...
It looks like things have been lively around here tho...sorry I missed everything...oh well, I can have fun catching up...
Well, I understand from those who engage in this sort of behavior that the key is to hit a 'plateau' and remain there.
Maybe I will have a beer.
That would be Fred Hoyle of "a tornado sweeping through a junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein" fame. The same guy who this site claims invented the steady-state theory because the Big Bang seemed too religious.
Yes, I know what it is, but why are you using it as red herring?
Do you not feel the effects of Gravity? Are you telling me you're so out of touch with common sense you can't render a synapsis to comprehend a conclusion from the premise I put forth?
Stop being so intellectly prudish for 2 seconds and try to open your tightwaded, unidirectional brain toward a formadable thought...instead of turning it into intellectual rubbish. Try this experiment: Jump up. Now, did you come back down or did you just float around in the air? Do this experiment a thousand times and see if any DIFFERENT results occur? Ask yourself this question: Do you feel the effects of gravity, or do you feel the effects of the THEORY OF GRAVITY?
Gee wiz...
That's a positively definite statement.
That you feel the effects of gravity is a data point (like one of those great fossil skulls I post).
The theory of gravity attempts to explain that, and many other, observations. It is the same with the theory of evolution.
Go back and read the definitions I post and you will have a better understanding of these terms.
It is always tough to get caught up.
They just put a new filter in where I am working these days -- I can't get to FR (but interestingly, I can get to DU [which I fund funny]). I think FR uses metatags that honestly broadcast its content. I am pretty sure DU lies about its content (big surprise).
No you don't.
Do you not feel the effects of Gravity? Are you telling me you're so out of touch with common sense you can't render a synapsis to comprehend a conclusion from the premise I put forth?
The theory of gravity has nothing to do with things falling down.
Stop being so intellectly prudish for 2 seconds and try to open your tightwaded, unidirectional brain toward a formadable thought...instead of turning it into intellectual rubbish. Try this experiment: Jump up. Now, did you come back down or did you just float around in the air? Do this experiment a thousand times and see if any DIFFERENT results occur? Ask yourself this question: Do you feel the effects of gravity, or do you feel the effects of the THEORY OF GRAVITY?
I feel the effects of gravity, not the effects of the "theory of gravity." The fact you would make such a statement tells me you don't know what a "scientific theory" is.
I am not an intellectual prude. Merely intellectually honest.
Gee wiz...
Shuckens.
Am I being overly snarky?
Just a reality check :)
So was Jerry brown, but thanks for the confirmation Monsignor...
I posted a false statement, as a result of my abysmal ignorance. Thank you for correcting me.
There you are. I fixed it for you! And you are welcome!
Thanks for the ping!
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