Formation of the UniverseFormation of the Universe

““In the very beginning, there was a void, a curious form ofIn the very beginning, there was a void, a curious form ofvacuum, nothingness containing no space, no time, no vacuum, nothingness containing no space, no time, no matter, no light, no sound. Yet the laws of nature were in matter, no light, no sound. Yet the laws of nature were in place and this curious vacuum held potential. A story place and this curious vacuum held potential. A story logically begins at the beginning, but this story is about thelogically begins at the beginning, but this story is about theuniverse and unfortunately there are no data for the universe and unfortunately there are no data for the beginnings—none, zero. We don’t know anything about the beginnings—none, zero. We don’t know anything about the universe until reaches the mature age of a billion of a universe until reaches the mature age of a billion of a trillionth of a second. That is, some very short time after trillionth of a second. That is, some very short time after creation in the big bang. When you read or hear anything creation in the big bang. When you read or hear anything about the birth of the universe, someone is making it up—about the birth of the universe, someone is making it up—we are in the realm of philosophy. Only God knows what we are in the realm of philosophy. Only God knows what happened at the very beginning.”happened at the very beginning.”

--Taken from --Taken from The God ParticleThe God Particle by Leon Lederman, a Nobel by Leon Lederman, a Nobel Prize winnerPrize winner

CosmologyCosmology

Cosmology is the study of the Cosmology is the study of the Nature,Nature,Structure,Structure,Origin,Origin,And fate of the universe.And fate of the universe.

Universe in a NutshellUniverse in a NutshellQuarks: SN (10-16 meters)

Subatomic Particles: SN (10-15 meters)

Atoms: EM (10-13 meters)

Molecules: EM (10-9 meters)

Matter (stuff): Gravity (100 meters)

Planets: Gravity (107 meters)

Solar System: Gravity (1014 meters)

Star Clusters: Gravity (1018 meters)

Galaxies: Gravity (1020 meters)

Galaxy Clusters: Gravity (1021 meters)

Super Clusters: Gravity (1023 meters)

Universe: Gravity (1025 meters)

There are four fundamental forces in nature 1. Gravity 2. Electromagnetic (EM) 3. Strong Nuclear (SN) 4. Weak Nuclear

The Structure of Everything

p+ = 2 up + 1 down

n = 2 down + 1 up

Big Bang TheoryBig Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory was first proposed in The Big Bang Theory was first proposed in the late 1920’s. the late 1920’s.

It states that there was an infinitely small, It states that there was an infinitely small, infinitely dense point that contained infinitely dense point that contained everything that is the universe.everything that is the universe.

This singularity was incredibly dense and This singularity was incredibly dense and hot.hot.

Big Bang TheoryBig Bang Theory

The Big Bang is believed to have occurred The Big Bang is believed to have occurred between 10 and 15 between 10 and 15 billionbillion yearsyears ago. ago. (Most scientists agree that the universe is (Most scientists agree that the universe is 13.7 billion years old.)13.7 billion years old.)

Two elements, hydrogen and helium were Two elements, hydrogen and helium were created in the primordial fireball, along created in the primordial fireball, along with small amounts of lithium and with small amounts of lithium and beryllium.beryllium.

Georges Henri LemaitreGeorges Henri Lemaitre

Late 1920’sLate 1920’s

Belgian Astronomer and Jesuit PriestBelgian Astronomer and Jesuit Priest

Known as the “Father of the Big Bang”Known as the “Father of the Big Bang”

First suggested that the universe formed First suggested that the universe formed from a singularity but had no evidence. from a singularity but had no evidence.

Edwin HubbleEdwin Hubble

19291929

Studied light given off by galaxies.Studied light given off by galaxies.

Noticed that light from most galaxies was shifted Noticed that light from most galaxies was shifted to the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum.to the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Proposed Hubble’s Law after studying these Proposed Hubble’s Law after studying these galaxies.galaxies.

Hubble’s LawHubble’s Law

The rate at which a galaxy is moving is The rate at which a galaxy is moving is directly proportional to its distance from directly proportional to its distance from us.us.

In other words, the farther away a galaxy In other words, the farther away a galaxy is from us, the faster it travels away from is from us, the faster it travels away from us.us.

Thus the universe is expanding.Thus the universe is expanding.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Absorption lines

Emission Lines

Spectral Lines and how they correspond to Absorption lines

Hubble’s LawHubble’s Law

All Galaxies All Galaxies exhibit redshifts exhibit redshifts of spectral lines.of spectral lines.

More Distant More Distant Galaxies Recede Galaxies Recede FasterFaster

The universe is expanding…The universe is expanding…

Cosmic Microwave Background Cosmic Microwave Background RadiationRadiation

Long-wavelength radiation that fills all space. Long-wavelength radiation that fills all space.

Can be detected using special antenna. (1% of Can be detected using special antenna. (1% of this can be detected in the static on your TV this can be detected in the static on your TV set.)set.)

George Gamow (1940’s) predicted there should George Gamow (1940’s) predicted there should be “echoes” of the Big Bang “explosion.”be “echoes” of the Big Bang “explosion.”

Bell LaboratoriesBell Laboratories Penzias and Wilson (1965) Penzias and Wilson (1965)

were radio astronomers were radio astronomers who worked for Bell who worked for Bell Telephone Laboratories.Telephone Laboratories.

Found a mysterious Found a mysterious microwave signal causing microwave signal causing background noise in their background noise in their radio telescope.radio telescope.

The signal came from The signal came from everywhere.everywhere.

Arno Arno PenziasPenzias Robert WilsonRobert Wilson

COBECOBE

Cosmic Background Explorer (1989)Cosmic Background Explorer (1989)

Probe that looked 15 billion light years into Probe that looked 15 billion light years into space to detect tiny temperature changes.space to detect tiny temperature changes.

These temperature changes were These temperature changes were evidence of the heat left over from the Big evidence of the heat left over from the Big Bang.Bang.

WMAPWMAP

In June 2001, Wilkinson In June 2001, Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) Probe (WMAP) captured the “glow” of captured the “glow” of the Big Bang by the Big Bang by detecting temperature detecting temperature changes just like changes just like COBE.COBE.

WMAP was much more WMAP was much more precise.precise.

Historical Observations of the CMB and Anisotropy

Steady State TheorySteady State Theory

Opposes the Big Bang TheoryOpposes the Big Bang Theory

Steady State Theory states that the Steady State Theory states that the universe has always been essentially the universe has always been essentially the same as it is today and that it will continue same as it is today and that it will continue that way forever.that way forever.

Steady State TheorySteady State Theory

As matter moves apart, new matter is As matter moves apart, new matter is created to fill the gaps.created to fill the gaps.

Cosmic Background Radiation in the Cosmic Background Radiation in the universe ruled out the Steady State universe ruled out the Steady State Theory.Theory.

Evidence of the Big BangEvidence of the Big Bang

1. The expansion of the universe 1. The expansion of the universe

Edwin Hubble's 1929 observation that Edwin Hubble's 1929 observation that galaxies were generally receding from us galaxies were generally receding from us provided the first clue that the Big Bang theory provided the first clue that the Big Bang theory might be right. might be right.

Evidence of the Big BangEvidence of the Big Bang2. The abundance of the 2. The abundance of the

light elements H, He, Li light elements H, He, Li

The Big Bang theory The Big Bang theory predicts that these light predicts that these light elements should have elements should have been fused from been fused from protons and neutrons protons and neutrons in the first few minutes in the first few minutes after the Big Bang. after the Big Bang. Predicted abundance of elements heavier than Predicted abundance of elements heavier than

hydrogen, as a function of the density of baryons in the hydrogen, as a function of the density of baryons in the universe (expressed in terms of the fraction of critical universe (expressed in terms of the fraction of critical density in baryons, Omega_B and the Hubble constant)density in baryons, Omega_B and the Hubble constant)

Evidence of the Big BangEvidence of the Big Bang

3. The cosmic microwave background 3. The cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation (CMB) radiation

The early universe should have been very The early universe should have been very hot. The cosmic microwave background hot. The cosmic microwave background radiation is the remnant heat leftover from radiation is the remnant heat leftover from the Big Bang. the Big Bang.

Limitations of the Big BangLimitations of the Big Bang

1. Structure in the universe 1. Structure in the universe

The Big Bang theory makes no attempt to The Big Bang theory makes no attempt to explain how structures like stars and explain how structures like stars and galaxies came to exist in the universe. galaxies came to exist in the universe.

Limitations of the Big BangLimitations of the Big Bang

2. Fluctuations in the cosmic microwave 2. Fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation background (CMB) radiation

The temperature of the CMB is observed The temperature of the CMB is observed to vary slightly across the sky. What to vary slightly across the sky. What produced these fluctuations and how do produced these fluctuations and how do they relate to stars and galaxies? they relate to stars and galaxies?

Limitations of the Big BangLimitations of the Big Bang

3. The inflationary universe 3. The inflationary universe

A very short, but especially rapid burst of A very short, but especially rapid burst of growth in the growth in the veryvery early universe early universe (“inflation”) provides an elegant, yet (“inflation”) provides an elegant, yet untested, explanation of the previous untested, explanation of the previous puzzles. puzzles.

Big Picture TimelineBig Picture Timeline

What’s the Universe Made Of?What’s the Universe Made Of?

4 % Atoms4 % Atoms

22% Cold Dark Matter22% Cold Dark Matter

74% Dark Energy74% Dark Energy

What is Dark Matter?What is Dark Matter?

Dark matter: this generally refers to Dark matter: this generally refers to "exotic" matter that interacts only weakly "exotic" matter that interacts only weakly with ordinary matter. While no such matter with ordinary matter. While no such matter has ever been directly observed in the has ever been directly observed in the laboratory, its existence has long been laboratory, its existence has long been suspected. suspected.

What is Dark Energy?What is Dark Energy?

Dark energy: this is a truly bizarre form of Dark energy: this is a truly bizarre form of matter, or perhaps a property of the matter, or perhaps a property of the vacuum itself, that is characterized by a vacuum itself, that is characterized by a large, negative pressure (repelling force). large, negative pressure (repelling force). This is the only form of matter that can This is the only form of matter that can cause the expansion of the universe to cause the expansion of the universe to accelerate, or speed up. accelerate, or speed up.

Dark Energy ExplainedDark Energy Explained

WMAP data reveals that its WMAP data reveals that its contents include 4.6% atoms, the contents include 4.6% atoms, the building blocks of stars and building blocks of stars and planets. Dark matter comprises planets. Dark matter comprises 23% of the universe. This matter, 23% of the universe. This matter, different from atoms, does not different from atoms, does not emit or absorb light. It has only emit or absorb light. It has only been detected indirectly by its been detected indirectly by its gravity. 72% of the universe, is gravity. 72% of the universe, is composed of "dark energy", that composed of "dark energy", that acts as a sort of an anti-gravity. acts as a sort of an anti-gravity. This energy, distinct from dark This energy, distinct from dark matter, is responsible for the matter, is responsible for the present-day acceleration of the present-day acceleration of the universal expansion. WMAP data universal expansion. WMAP data is accurate to two digits, so the is accurate to two digits, so the total of these numbers is not total of these numbers is not 100%. This reflects the current 100%. This reflects the current limits of WMAP's ability to define limits of WMAP's ability to define Dark Matter and Dark Energy.Dark Matter and Dark Energy.

Fates of the UniverseFates of the Universe

Open UniverseOpen Universe

Closed UniverseClosed Universe

Flat UniverseFlat Universe

Accelerating UniverseAccelerating Universe

Fates of the UniverseFates of the Universe

Open Universe – little gravity that outward Open Universe – little gravity that outward expansion goes on foreverexpansion goes on forever

Closed Universe – gravity will eventually Closed Universe – gravity will eventually halt the expansion and draw everything. halt the expansion and draw everything. Also known as the Big CrunchAlso known as the Big Crunch

Fates of the UniverseFates of the Universe

Flat Universe – expansion slows down but Flat Universe – expansion slows down but never stopsnever stops

Accelerating Universe - expansion of the Accelerating Universe - expansion of the universe will speed up. (Most accepted universe will speed up. (Most accepted theory because of dark energy.)theory because of dark energy.)

LightLight

A A light yearlight year is defined as the distance that is defined as the distance that light travels in one earth year.light travels in one earth year.

Light travels atLight travels at 300,000 km/s 300,000 km/s oror 186,000 mi/s186,000 mi/s

Remember…Remember…

Time and Space are Inseparable…Time and Space are Inseparable…Light travels at a finite speed (3 x 10Light travels at a finite speed (3 x 1088 m/s) m/s)When you look into the night sky, you look When you look into the night sky, you look

into the past…into the past…The farther out you look, the farther back The farther out you look, the farther back

in time you see…in time you see…The sequence of events in the evolution of The sequence of events in the evolution of

the universe are “written” in space like an the universe are “written” in space like an eternal movie…eternal movie…

Into the PastInto the PastTime Required for Light to Travel to the Earth

Moon 1.25 seconds

Sun 8.5 minutes

Centrari 4.5 years

Betelgeuse 1200 years

Milky Way 100,000 years

Andromeda 2.2 million years

Virgo Cluster 60 million years

Hydra Super Cluster 3 billion years

Quasars 13 billion years

Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB)

13.5 billion years