Sie sind auf Seite 1von 5

How Relativity Explains Rapid Cosmic Expansion

By G.M. Jackson

Abstract:

Cosmic rapid expansion resolves the horizon problem, the


magnetic-monopole problem, and flatness problem. More than
one hypothesis has been proffered to describe the mechanics of
cosmic rapid expansion, including the inflaton hypothesis.
Einstein’s theory of relativity can also explain the phenomenon
of cosmic rapid expansion--even though such expansion appears
to exceed the light-speed barrier.

The mu-meson experiment conducted in 1962 by David H. Frisch and


James H. Smith demonstrated the mu-meson decay rate slowed when
mu-mesons moved at high subluminal speeds. In other words, the
mu-meson’s proper time ran slower. This result was consistent with the
following Lorentz equation:

1.
According to equation 1, the faster you travel, the slower your proper
time. The fast-moving mu-mesons aged more slowly than they would
have if they were at rest. This raises a question: did Frisch and Smith
also age more slowly? If the mu-mesons were considered at rest, then
Frisch and Smith were the ones traveling at a high subluminal speed as
they and the mu-mesons passed each other during the experiment.

If Frisch and Smith did in fact discover the fountain of youth, then a
person would never age if that person allowed a light beam to run past
him at all times and considered the light at rest and himself in motion.
His proper time would always be zero:

The truth is Frisch and Smith did age normally. That suggests they were
the ones at rest, not the mu-mesons:

Thus it can be determined by experiment who or what is at rest and who


or what is in motion. Further, the Lorentz equation indicates one’s
proper time is determined by the ratio of one’s actual velocity with that of
a photon’s.

The result of the mu-meson experiment demonstrated that the famous


twin-paradox thought experiment is not just science fiction. The twin
riding in the spaceship ages more slowly than her sister back on earth.
That implies the time on earth is running faster than the time on the
spaceship:

2.
From the spaceship twin’s perspective, time is running normally. When
she arrives back on earth it is as if she traveled into the future. Not only
is her sister older than her, the universe is older too. If the universe
expanded in x amount of light-years in time t, then it also expanded x
light-years in time t’. To the twin on earth, the universe’s expansion
was normal, but to the spaceship twin, the expansion was rapid.

Does this twin-paradox brand of rapid expansion apply to the early


universe’s alleged rapid expansion? To answer this question, let’s
engage in a new thought experiment. Imagine a universe just before its
rapid-expansion phase. There exists at least two particles we will label
Alice and Bob. Along with other particles, Alice and Bob are moving
apart at velocities no greater than light speed according an outside
observer named Sid:

3.
Sid sees Alice and Bob moving apart, each at a velocity of distance D per
time t. But Alice and Bob are experiencing proper time, so they each
have a velocity of distance D per time t’:

Since time t’ is less than time t, Bob and Alice will increase the space
between them by a distance of 2D in less time. In fact, according to
Alice and Bob, they are moving apart faster than light!

Sid, of course, objects to such a claim. It is clear to him that Alice and
Bob are moving apart no faster than light speed. However, this is a
fictitious thought experiment. At the time before our universe’s rapid
expansion, there was no observer named Sid. In fact there were no
outside observers we can empirically verify. That means the only time
that was available was the proper time of the stuff moving apart.

If we go back to our toy universe and remove Sid from the picture, we
just have the following:

4.
If Alice and Bob are massless particles, time t’ could fall to zero, which
would enable Alice and Bob to create space between them at a speed with
no upper limit. Their universe would rapidly expand!

As the volume of their universe expands, it cools down, massless


radiation evolves into massive matter. Alice and Bob and other particles
slow down. As they slow down, time t’ increases--their universe’s
expansion rate slows to a rate we would find familiar.

Conclusion:

Special relativity can be used to explain the hypothetical rapid cosmic


expansion of our early universe. If the expansion rate was a substantial
subluminal speed (according to a fictitious observer at rest) and there was
no other time than proper time, then it can be shown that, from the point
of view of any observer expanding with the universe, rapid cosmic
expansion can occur.

5.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen