Big Bang: How Did the Energy Get There?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the origins of the Big Bang, specifically questioning how energy could exist prior to or at the moment of the Big Bang, given the principle of conservation of energy. Participants explore various theories and hypotheses related to the Big Bang, including string theory, multiverses, and the nature of matter and antimatter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Theoretical speculation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the Big Bang was caused by an extreme heating of energy, questioning how that energy could exist if it cannot be created or destroyed.
  • Others argue that the cause of the Big Bang is unknown, with some proposing that the conservation of energy might not apply in the context of the universe's creation.
  • A participant introduces the idea of a white hole as a potential origin for the Big Bang, implying a connection to multiverse theories.
  • String theory is mentioned as a possible explanation for the high energy conditions leading to the Big Bang, though uncertainties remain about the origins of strings themselves.
  • Another participant posits that energy conservation laws may not hold during the universe's creation, while another counters that matter and antimatter were likely created in equal parts, with a slight excess of matter remaining after annihilation events.
  • Some participants express confusion over the implications of quantum theory on these discussions, indicating a lack of clarity in the theories presented.
  • The appeal of a universe arising from nothing is discussed, alongside the challenges of explaining the existence of a "first something" and the limitations of existing theories.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the cause of the Big Bang remains unknown, with multiple competing views and theories being presented. The discussion reflects significant uncertainty and ongoing debate regarding the nature of energy and matter in relation to the Big Bang.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the limitations of current understanding and the speculative nature of many theories discussed, including string theory and the concept of a universe from nothing. There are unresolved questions regarding the application of conservation laws in the context of the universe's creation.

Chrono
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The Big Bang was basically caused by an extreme heating up of energy, right? Well, how did that energy get there if it can neither be created or destroyed?

This question is assuming I have my facts straight.
 
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I think nobody nows what caused the big bang, or if there has only been one. And your remark about the conservation of energy; this 'rule' might be created along with the big bang itself... We're not nearly yet at the point of understanding of the beginning of the universe as we would like...
 
The first day of creation, who could ACT rationally on such a morning?
Aleksandr Isaevich Solzhenitsyn
 
The Big Bang might have started from a white hole, which would assumes multiverses.
 
The answer might lie in string theory, saying that it is possible for high tension strings to produce high energy and continue to produce heavy mass, much heavier than the standard model of particles and then decay into particles we study today. Though it's just a theory and I don't know how the first string came about. Also, with a slight energy fluctuation matter and anti-matter can be created, with enough energy (more anti-matter), a matter/anti-matter colision could possibly form other mass and so on and so forth. But I've found all these theories confusing because quantum theory always seems to turn things around. But it's just some stuff I've read.

-Energy conservation laws would probably breakdown in creation of a universe wouldn't they?
 
energy conservation laws may not break down in the creation of the universe. i think the current theory is that matter and antimatter were created in equal parts, but the antimatter had a slightly shorter decay rate, so there was a slightly higher abundance of matter left over after all the matter/antimatter anihilated.
 
Here is an interesting link dating back 10^-44 seconds before the big bang:
http://perry.sonoma.edu/journeys/cb/Default.html
 
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Chrono - As was said, the cause of the Big Bang is unknown, although there are some interesting ideas being considered (e.g., string theory, etc.). But, alas, no well supported scientific theory to explain the Big Bang source.

matt.o - There's a possible zero-sum game if you add up the positive & negative aspects of matter, energy, dark matter, dark energy, & gravity in the universe (all balances out). Check out ...
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=58558
 
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The concept of a universe from nothing has a certain appeal. There are other mechanisms proposed that rely upon a pre existing state [strings, branes, previous universes] but, if you extrapolate these backwards as well, you still face the ultimate question: where did the very first something come from? To say they have existed forever is, at least to me, not very satisfying, but I suppose that is a matter of taste. Much has been written on the topic:

A Universe from Nothing
http://www.astrosociety.org/pubs/mercury/31_02/nothing.html
An old standby article

Simple quantum cosmology: Vacuum energy and initial state
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0501014
The most recent technical paper
 
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  • #10
Phobos said:
Chrono - As was said, the cause of the Big Bang is unknown, although there are some interesting ideas being considered (e.g., string theory, etc.). But, alas, no well supported scientific theory to explain the Big Bang source.

That's pretty much what I was looking for.
 

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