About Eternal Inflation and Spacetime Bubbles

In summary, eternal inflation is an ongoing process according to Guth and other scientists. However, the possibility of collisions between different bubble universes is still unknown. Some theories suggest that the ensemble of all universes is embedded in a larger space-time continuum, but this is not confirmed. Sean Carroll's paper presents the idea that spontaneous eternal inflation could explain the thermodynamic arrow of time, while a recent followup paper discusses the potential for inflation to provide natural initial conditions for the universe.
  • #1
Curious6
184
0
I have read a lot about eternal inflation and as I understand it Guth and others are now arguing that once inflation has started, it is an ongoing process. However, my question is, once inflation had finished in one Universe and inflation had started somewhere else, wouldn't the expanding inflationary domain soon collide with the Universe that had already inflated? I mean, what stops the spacetime bubbles of colliding with each other?
 
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  • #2
Perhaps they pass through each other without knowing it?
The collisions you imagine are in space-time, however each such bubble universe would have its own space-time continuum; what the ensemble of all such universes are embedded in is anyone's guess!

Garth
 
  • #3
if the other bubbles pull on ours
then you have the power source of the inflation
simple gravity but from outside our bubble
 
  • #4
Here is an interesting paper on that subject by Sean Carroll:

http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0410270
Spontaneous Inflation and the Origin of the Arrow of Time
"We suggest that spontaneous eternal inflation can provide a natural explanation for the thermodynamic arrow of time, and discuss the underlying assumptions and consequences of this view..."

Here is a recent followup on that paper:

http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0505037
Does Inflation Provide Natural Initial Conditions for the Universe?
 

What is eternal inflation?

Eternal inflation is a theory in cosmology that proposes the existence of an infinite number of universes within a larger "multiverse." It suggests that our universe is just one of many bubble universes that are constantly expanding and creating new universes.

What are spacetime bubbles?

Spacetime bubbles are regions within the multiverse where the laws of physics may differ from one another. They are created during the process of inflation, where quantum fluctuations cause certain areas to expand faster than others, resulting in bubble-like structures.

How does eternal inflation explain the origin of our universe?

Eternal inflation suggests that our universe began as a tiny, dense point that underwent a rapid period of expansion known as the Big Bang. This expansion caused the universe to cool and form the structures we see today. However, it also suggests that other universes may have different origins and physical laws.

Is there any evidence for eternal inflation?

While there is no direct evidence for eternal inflation, it is consistent with many observations in cosmology, such as the uniformity of the cosmic microwave background radiation and the large-scale structure of the universe. However, more research and observations are needed to confirm this theory.

What are the implications of eternal inflation?

The concept of eternal inflation has significant implications for our understanding of the universe. It suggests that our universe is just one of many, and that there may be other forms of life and civilizations within the multiverse. It also raises questions about the nature of time and the possibility of traveling between different universes.

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