Could the Universe Be Expanding as Wave Fronts?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of the universe expanding as wave fronts, proposing that fundamental particles may represent the particle manifestation of these waves. However, participants conclude that this idea is flawed due to the distinct nature of time as a dimension, which does not behave like spatial dimensions. Additionally, the absence of a universal "now" in relativity contradicts the notion of the universe as a simple wavefront. General Relativity describes space-time as a manifold, where past, present, and future coexist, challenging the wave front analogy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of General Relativity
  • Familiarity with the concept of space-time manifolds
  • Knowledge of the nature of dimensions (spatial vs. temporal)
  • Basic principles of wave mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of General Relativity on time and space
  • Explore the concept of space-time manifolds in detail
  • Study the differences between spatial and temporal dimensions
  • Investigate wave mechanics and its relation to particle physics
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, cosmologists, and students of theoretical physics interested in the nature of the universe, wave mechanics, and the implications of General Relativity.

marlowgs
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Could the universe be expanding wave fronts and the fundamental particles of matter be the particle manifestation of the waves? The wave front surface being the 3 dimensions of space and the radius of the front being the time dimension - similar to a wave front of light but one extra dimension at the front.
 
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Those questions do not make sense at all, so the answer is probably "no".
 
marlowgs said:
Could the universe be expanding wave fronts and the fundamental particles of matter be the particle manifestation of the waves? The wave front surface being the 3 dimensions of space and the radius of the front being the time dimension - similar to a wave front of light but one extra dimension at the front.
No, for a few reasons.

First, while time is a dimension, it doesn't behave quite the same as the spatial dimensions. As a result, it doesn't make sense to describe time as a spatial dimension too literally.

Second, there is no unique notion of a global "now": different observers will consider different sets of far-away events to have occurred at the same time. This means that the universe *cannot* simply be a wavefront moving forward in time. In fact, in General Relativity, all of space-time is described as a single entity (called a manifold), with the past and future existing in the same way that the present exists. In this picture, the passage of time is a sort of illusion created by increasing entropy.
 

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