No Big Bang?

This has not been a good year for the "Big Bang Theory." First an American team at BICEP thought they found B-modes consistent with the idea of Cosmic Inflation; however, its European counterpart voiced their opposition citing that what the Americans detected as "twists" or "ripples" was actually galactic dust.

See:
http://www.sacerdotus.com/2014/03/inflation-lemaitre-was-correct.html

http://www.sacerdotus.com/2014/11/bicep2-wrong-on-b-modes.html

Well, now there is a new theory claiming that there was no "Big Bang" and that the universe is, in fact, infinite, with no beginning or end. Theoretical physicist Saurya Das of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada posits that by using Bohmian mechanics; or an older form of working with quantum mechanics, both the theory of relativity and the aforementioned can be reconciled.  The result would show a universe that is eternal and never began as a dense singularity over 13 billion years ago.  The study, "Cosmology from quantum potential" was published last month.

As you may know, most physicists, astrophysicists and cosmologists believe the universe began in a dense hot state which expanded, cooled off and began to form galaxies, stars, planets etc.  This is called "Cosmic Inflation" or colloquially, "The Big Bang."  The theory came from a Catholic priest named George Lemaitre who used mathematics, including Einstein's theory of general relativity and the Raychaudhuri's equation to demonstrate that this was, in fact, how the universe began.  However, a problem arises when physicists try to go back towards the singularity.  Since the laws of physics began at the "big bang," then going back through time to that point means that the laws of physics begin to break down.  Moreover, to date, there is no way to unite quantum mechanics with general relativity.  This is because the latter deals with a more deterministic nature in regards to particles while quantum mechanics seems to show a randomness in the universe.  How can things be determined yet be random?

Das believes that by using his team's equation to calculate the density of what is called dark matter, then this would show that our universe contains particles believe to exist called gravitons.  Other hypothetical particles would also show themselves such as axions which are invisible "immaterial" like particles. If the distribution of dark matter correlates identically with these hypothetical particles that allegedly fill up the universe, then this will show that the universe never began at a singularity and would also reconcile both general relativity and quantum mechanics.  This idea is not new and has been suggested in M-Theory or "String Theory.'  In this theory, it is believed that the universe is like a spring expanding and then contracting.

This new theory sounds interesting, but based on my studies in physics, it will be hard to prove.  Like String theory, there are too many guesses and what if's involved to really do anything scientifically solid. For example, suppose the universe did not have a beginning or did not begin at a singularity.  This would mean that the universe was "bouncing."  The problem with this is that one it expanded, then it would have used its energy; so when it contracts, how can it spring out again?  You can try this with a slinky or rubber band.  Pull on it enough to stretch it out but not to the point that it breaks.  Let is go without hurting yourself.  You will see that the slinky/rubber band will contract back to its original form.  It will not expand or stretch out again because it has no energy to do so.  The only way to make it spring out and contract again is if you do the test again.  So you in effect will be the eternal "prime mover."

In any event, I will be following up on this new theory and see where it goes.  As a student of physics, I try to keep up to date with the latest findings and research.








Source:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0370269314009381


https://uk.news.yahoo.com/big-bang-deflated-universe-may-had-no-beginning-140017504.html#8XBPDri

BICEP2 Wrong on B-Modes

Last spring of 2014, an American team of physicists used BICEP or the Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization telescope in Antarctica to look for evidence for cosmic inflation. As you may know, most physicists, astrophysicists and cosmologists believe the universe began in a dense hot state which expanded, cooled off and began to form galaxies, stars, planets etc.  This is called "Cosmic Inflation" or colloquially, "The Big Bang."  The theory came from a Catholic priest named George Lemaitre.

To date, this is the strongest theory out there in regards to the creation of the Universe; however, it is extremely difficult to detect such expansion or calculate what happened prior to Planck time. This is where BICEP2 comes in.  The team searched for polarizations or "B-modes" which are twists of gravitation waves or ripples.  Scientists conducting this study thought they discovered these B-modes and everyone broke out into celebration: "We finally have more solid evidence for Cosmic Inflation!" See: http://www.sacerdotus.com/2014/03/inflation-lemaitre-was-correct.html

Well, the European team replied, "hold up, wait a minute, something is wrong."  They are now arguing that these B-modes detected could be anything from the movement of large galaxies, other bodies in space or even dust from our own galaxy. The European team presented a paper to peer-review showing their evidence that, in fact, the American team got it wrong.





Source:

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1409.5738.pdf

Inflation - Lemaitre was Correct!

Astrophysicists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center have appeared to discover evidence of Cosmic Inflation.

Cosmic Inflation basically means that the universe is expanding and began to expand about 14 billion years ago after the "Big Bang." The evidence comes in "B-modes" which are polarizations in the Cosmic Microwave Background.

These were discovered using the BICEP (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) telescope which is located in Antarctica. The telescope seems to show gravitational waves which indicate expansion of space, time and matter itself.

This all seems complicated, but try to see it as a pond.  If you throw a stone at the pond you will see ripples extending outward from the point of impact.

This is pretty much what these astrophysicists spotted. The "ripples" are the gravitational waves expanding space, time and matter just like the ripples in water show the water "expanding" outward, if you will.

We can thank Monsignor George Lemaitre for formulating the "Big Bang Theory."  Many in the atheist community distort the truth by claiming that religion and science are incompatible or that the Catholic Church is opposed to science.  Msgr. Lemaitre and countless others in the Catholic Church have shown otherwise.  Had it not been for this priest, these astrophysicists would not have been looking for and finding these gravitational waves.  Msgr. Lemaitre was President of the Pontifical Academy of Science and contributed much to science and faith.

Source:

http://news.yahoo.com/major-discovery-smoking-gun-universes-incredible-big-bang-145912987.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/cosmic-inflation-theory-early-universe-expansion_n_4979486.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D454769






UPDATE:  December 2014  


According to a new study which was submitted for peer review suggests that the study conducted last year by BICEP2 was wrong.  Apparently, the twists of B-modes which are imprints of gravitational waves of energy were not what the American BICEP2 team thought they were.  The B-Mode signal may have been interference from large galaxies.  There is also the lensing effect which must be considered.  However, the more solid reason for the doubts come from dust that is in the Milky Way.  This dust can cause a polarisation pattern like that of B-Modes which may have confused the American physicists into thinking that they were gravitational waves showing expansion at a rapid rate.  The quest now continues...





Source:

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1409.5738.pdf

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/forum_thread.php?id=76635

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-31058529

http://wtexas.com/content/15011865-bicep-detection-was-wrong-study

https://www.ias.edu/ias-letter/flauger-bicep