Big Bang starting Mass (mater/antimatter)

In summary, the Big Bang is believed to have created equal amounts of matter and antimatter, which were mostly destroyed in annihilation processes. However, due to a slight asymmetry, our universe contains more matter than antimatter. The mechanism for this asymmetry may have occurred during the inflation process before the Hubble expansion. The asymmetry is estimated to be one part in ten billion, and the matter/antimatter annihilation process likely took place within the first millionth of a second. A good resource for further information on this topic is the textbook "The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter" by Helen Quinn.
  • #1
RandallB
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From how we expect the Big Bang must have developed, huge amounts of both matter and antimatter quarks and electron/positrons were created. Most of the total matter was destroyed in matter/antimatter annihilations. With our resulting universe containing normal matter due to some asymmetry developing with slightly more matter than antimatter.

Presumably the defined mechanism for creating matter/antimatter from the early plasma while gravity weak and strong forces became independent should have created equal amounts of both.
Assuming that defined mechanism is a good one a potential source for the asymmetry allowing the matter needed to establish the world as we now know it might have occurred during the “inflation” process prior to settling into the Hubble expansion we know somewhat better.

Does anyone know a good link or resource that discusses how much mass (matter/antimatter) is expected to have gone into the matter/antimatter annihilation process relative the amount of matter that remained by the time of Last Scattering?
Said another way just how small was the asymmetry between matter/antimatter?

From what I’ve been able to find I’m unclear on when the matter/antimatter annihilation process took place; was it during “Inflation” before 3 minutes, or during Big-Bang nucleosynthesis 3 to 20 minutes or both?
 
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  • #2
  • #3
Thanks; looks like just the book I needed to find.
For others interested it is a textbook Pub by Princeton:
The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter by Helen Quinn
539.7
QC 173.3 b.Q85 (2008)
 

1. What is the Big Bang theory?

The Big Bang theory is the most widely accepted scientific explanation for the origin of the universe. It proposes that the universe began as a singularity, a point of infinite density and temperature, and expanded rapidly in a massive explosion approximately 13.8 billion years ago.

2. How did the Big Bang create matter and antimatter?

The Big Bang is thought to have created equal amounts of matter and antimatter. During the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang, the universe was filled with extremely high energy particles. As the universe expanded and cooled, these particles collided and annihilated each other, creating equal amounts of matter and antimatter.

3. What happened to the antimatter created during the Big Bang?

According to the Big Bang theory, the universe began with equal amounts of matter and antimatter. However, as the universe continued to expand and cool, the antimatter particles began to disappear. This is because when matter and antimatter particles collide, they annihilate each other and release energy. As a result, the majority of antimatter in the early universe was destroyed, leaving behind the matter that we see today.

4. How did the Big Bang starting mass affect the formation of galaxies and stars?

The starting mass of the universe, as determined by the Big Bang theory, played a crucial role in the formation of galaxies and stars. The initial expansion of the universe caused slight variations in the density of matter, which eventually led to the formation of structures like galaxies and clusters of galaxies. These structures then served as the "seeds" for the formation of stars and planets.

5. Is there any evidence to support the Big Bang theory?

Yes, there is a significant amount of evidence that supports the Big Bang theory. One key piece of evidence is the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is a remnant of the intense energy released during the Big Bang. The predictions made by the Big Bang theory also align with observations of the universe, such as the abundance of light elements and the expansion of the universe. Additionally, ongoing research and advancements in technology continue to support and refine the Big Bang theory.

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