Probing Question: What happened before the Big Bang?

Pennsylvania State University ^ | 03 August 2006 | Barbara Kennedy

[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.

[js1138]

I didn't read that one either.

[InterceptPoint]

Keep the faith. Anti-science and junk science don't die easily.

[RightWhale]

It's a rule: An inherited interferometer will be found to be dysfunctional but repairable but hardly worth it.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Actually, the sum of matter and energy in the universe is zero. It's just a big kited check.

If the universe is analogous to a virtual particle and is the result of a quantum fluctuation, then it is embedded in a super-spacetime that is eternal and infinite and I will call THAT God.

[Bryan24]

"What has atheism to do with the discussion?"

Nothing at all.

***** BLANK STARE *****

[pageonetoo]

I wasn't there when O.J. slaughtered his wife, either, but I have a high degree of confidence he did it.

No, it takes knowledge of the evidence. That you are incapable of understanding a subject has no bearing on the subject's validity. A three-year-old doesn't understand calculus; it does not mean calculus is crap.

So, Let me get this straight. Your argument is that, since OJ might have killed his wife, and you made the decision that he did it, therefore, the ruling of the jury that heard the evidence, who were all three years old, just didn't understand what was shoved in to the glove.

Therefore, I am to believe that there is no God.

Get back to me, when you actually have something to say.

[Lazamataz]

More like OmniWay.

[pageonetoo]

...Up one level from the HyperG-d is Anna Kournikova.

Hey, you know the rules.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

The "Big Bang" was the result of the previous universe collapsing in on itself. i.e., it's cyclic.

You obviously haven't heard of dark energy and the fact that the universe is open and will expand forever. The cyclic theory went kaput a few years ago. And besides, it suffered from a violation of entropy.

[Lazamataz]

You are posting the picture of the UltraSuperDuperMegaG-d.

And I thought that was blasphemy.

[FreedomCalls]

There was no "surface" to exist in or that had an outside. There was nothing outside as space itself was created at the time. There was no "before" either as time too was created along with space.

[pageonetoo]

...Up one level from the HyperG-d is Anna Kournikova.

Hey, you know the rules.

But, Amy Smart ain't no skank, either!

[js1138]

If God is analogous to the creater of virtual particle that is the result of a quantum fluctuation, then He is embedded in a super-spacetime that is eternal and infinite and I will call THAT turtles all the way up.

There is still at least one instance of an uncaused cause. Since we can observe uncaused events in our everyday material world, the appeal to causation has no traction.

[PatrickHenry]

There may never have been a boundary that would mark the edge of the universe.

Yes. The universe ain't no zip code.

[Lazamataz]

It's just a big kited check.

Back when I was using drugs, I kited a few checks.

I told a friend about the problem. He said to turn it over to G-d.

So I did.

And G-d turned 'em over to the sheriff.

[RightWhale]

The inner surface of the outside of the singularity existed where time was contained.

What is this 'time' that can be contained with surfaces of something? What is this something?

[RightWhale]

It's one of those methaphors.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

There is still at least one instance of an uncaused cause. Since we can observe uncaused events in our everyday material world, the appeal to causation has no traction.

An uncaused event must have an infinite origin. Your inability to see a cause is not evidence of lack of a cause. It is hand waving. An uncaused event is known more commonly as a "miracle". The things you see without a natural cause are evidence of a supernatural cause, an infinite number of "miracles" right under your nose.

[Dimensio]

Nothing at all.

Then why did you introduce an irrelevant topic?

[Dimensio]

Therefore, I am to believe that there is no God.

When has Junior claimed that "there is no God"? Please reference a specific posting.