Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Physicists Calculate Number of Parallel Universes
PhysOrg ^ | 10/16/09 | Lisa Zyga

Posted on 10/18/2009 4:06:14 AM PDT by LibWhacker

The strongest limit on the number of possible universes is the human ability to distinguish between different universes.

(PhysOrg.com) -- Over the past few decades, the idea that our universe could be one of many alternate universes within a giant multiverse has grown from a sci-fi fantasy into a legitimate theoretical possibility. Several theories of physics and astronomy have hypothesized the existence of a multiverse made of many parallel universes. One obvious question that arises, then, is exactly how many of these parallel universes might there be.

In a new study, Stanford physicists Andrei Linde and Vitaly Vanchurin have calculated the number of all possible universes, coming up with an answer of 10^10^16. If that number sounds large, the scientists explain that it would have been even more humongous, except that we observers are limited in our ability to distinguish more universes; otherwise, there could be as many as 10^10^10^7 universes.

To work these numbers out, Linde and Vanchurin looked back to the time shortly after the Big Bang, which they view as a quantum process that generated lots of quantum fluctuations. Then during the period of inflation, the universe grew rapidly and these quantum fluctuations were "frozen" into classical perturbations in distinct regions. Today, each of these regions could be a different universe, having its own distinct laws of low energy physics.

By analyzing the mechanism (called "slow roll inflation") that initially generated the quantum fluctuations, the scientists could estimate the number of resulting universes at 10^10^10^7 (a number which is dependent on the model they used). However, this number is limited by other factors, specifically by the limits of the human brain. Since the total amount of information that one individual can absorb in a lifetime is about 10^16 bits, which is equivalent to 10^10^16 configurations, this means that a human brain couldn't distinguish more than 10^10^16 universes.

Requiring that the human brain must be able to count the number of parallel universes may seem inappropriate, if not arrogant, but Linde and Vanchurin explain that dealing with the quantum world is different than our everyday lives in which quantum effects can be safely ignored. A crucial part of their calculation here is an investigation of quantum effects on supergalactic scales. In this kind of scenario, the state of the multiverse and observations made by an observer are correlated (similar to the Schrodinger cat experiment, where the outcome can be determined only after it is registered by a classical observer).

"When we analyze the probability of the existence of a universe of a given type, we should be talking about a consistent pair: the universe and an observer who makes the rest of the universe 'alive' and the wave function of the rest of the universe time-dependent," the scientists write.

As the scientists explain, the calculation of the number of universes is an important step toward an even larger goal: to find the probability of living in a universe with a particular set of properties. What are the chances that we live in a world in which the laws of physics are these laws that we currently observe? Answering this question requires finding probabilities that depend on knowing about other universes, among many other challenges.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: calculate; multiverse; number; parallel; physicists; science; stringtheory; universes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last
To: onedoug

There has been arguments that with the universe exactly tuned to allow for the existence of life that is evidence of a creator But if you have some uncomprehensible large number of multiverses then the one we live is just happens to have the correct random drawing for life.


41 posted on 10/18/2009 8:41:39 AM PDT by C19fan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

Random? I strongly suspect not. Yet, one of possibly >billions if M-Theory is correct. Tough it’s never testable but that in it’s lower limits it reduces to general relativity and Newtonian mechaninics in such a natural and unfettered way as render it at least mathematically beautiful.

...And gives God a lot to keep of....


42 posted on 10/18/2009 9:15:20 AM PDT by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
similar to the Schrodinger cat experiment, where the outcome can be determined only after it is registered by a classical observer

There was no such experiment (peta would freak out over that one). Schrodinger's paradox was meant to show the limitations of the then emerging Copenhagen interpretation and that our understanding of QM is wrong - or at least incomplete. People have been misusing the paradox ever since.

43 posted on 10/18/2009 9:48:38 AM PDT by eclecticEel (The Most High rules in the kingdom of men ... and sets over it the basest of men.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sherman Logan

How could we, in this universe, ever “see” or “detect” another universe, let alone many others? Unless we can so detect one , then this whole thing will always be a theory. Am I not correct?


44 posted on 10/18/2009 10:30:49 AM PDT by uscabjd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

OK fine but the burning question of the day is how many perpindicular universes there are.


45 posted on 10/18/2009 10:36:26 AM PDT by jwalsh07 (Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what you can do for Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Fascinating...


46 posted on 10/18/2009 10:45:07 AM PDT by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sherman Logan
Yes. Glad we are in agreement.

Isaiah 55:8: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

47 posted on 10/18/2009 11:41:00 AM PDT by Upstate NY Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: ImaGraftedBranch

I don’t know how they calculate this. 10^10^16 is one hell of a big number.


48 posted on 10/18/2009 12:08:50 PM PDT by Upstate NY Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Yardstick

“... travel faster than the speed of a cream pie.”

Would be nice.


49 posted on 10/18/2009 2:05:32 PM PDT by ntmxx (I am not so sure about this misdirection!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Dave; LibWhacker; AdmSmith; bvw; callisto; ckilmer; dandelion; ganeshpuri89; gobucks; ...
Thanks Las Vegas Dave for the ping, and thanks LibWhacker for posting the topic. :')

· String Theory Ping List ·
Cat Physicist
· View or Post in 'blog · Join · Bookmark · Topics · post a topic · subscribe · Google ·

50 posted on 10/18/2009 2:50:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

Exactly the same as TNOATCFOAHOAP!

The Number Of Angels That Can Fit On The Head Of A Pin. Or HPA for short.

Marvelous how *far* such *science* has progressed.

Another example of how the metric system destroys real science.


51 posted on 10/18/2009 3:02:26 PM PDT by bvw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oratam

52 posted on 10/18/2009 4:09:26 PM PDT by rdl6989
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
Meh. I've been reading about this kind of stuff for 50 years.


53 posted on 10/18/2009 4:15:09 PM PDT by Bratch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stevem
"What kind of experiments do they use to test this theory? "

Simple....ACORN is going to use part of that 2.6 billion dollars it's getting in the stimulus pkg to develop the appropriate counting procedures.....

Probably the same one they'll be using in the 2010 census...(One more reason we can be sure that the so-called de-funding a couple of weeks ago was just the usual B.S. by those who rule us.)

54 posted on 10/18/2009 4:15:41 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
BtD: "Hot puppydogs, Perfesser! You mean that somewhere out there, there's a universe where I date supermodels and the Mariners won the world series?"

Prof: "I am sorry, Mr. Drill, but I do not sink even ten to ze tenth to ze sixteenth universes iss gonna be enough to hold zat one."

55 posted on 10/18/2009 4:17:28 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill

Lol :D


56 posted on 10/18/2009 4:21:41 PM PDT by rdl6989
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
... Define parallel universe.

When Jesus rose from the dead and left the stone tomb, He left our spacetime realm and went to another close by (about the length of a man's arm away in fact, as attested by the witness of Belshazzar found in Daniel chapter five, OT). When He appear in the locked upper room, He came from a close-by realm to be with His Disciples.

57 posted on 10/18/2009 4:22:34 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Dems, believing they cannot be deceived, it is impossible to convince them when they are deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

It’s amazing, the lengths some will go to, to escape the increasingly clear nature of the one universe we’re in.

At least some have been honest about that nature, like Edwin Hubble, Fred Hoyle and, currently, Lawrence Krauss. Avoidance of it is another matter, a “horror” to even contemplate, let alone acknowledge, according to Hubble.


58 posted on 10/18/2009 4:26:50 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker
. . .What are the chances that we live in a world in which the laws of physics are these laws that we currently observe?

Chances are 100% for me.

Most days.

59 posted on 10/18/2009 4:28:32 PM PDT by Brugmansian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AUH2O Repub
I totally agree with President Palin’s decision today to ship off the last of the liberals to the detention colonies in Iran and Iraq. What? Oh, I’m sorry, guess I got shoved into the wrong Universe for a while.
Ah... a perfect universe. Unfortunately, we're not in that one.
60 posted on 10/18/2009 5:00:43 PM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson