# Current State of the Big Freeze end of the Universe Theory.

1. May 8, 2013

### raluu

I was trying to find an updated view on the plausibility of the Big Freeze. I believe that a couple of years ago, it was considered the most likely end of the world scenario and I was just wondering if it still is.

Also as a side question: I understand that Big Freeze happens with an indefinite expansion of the universe. Does this occur exclusively with a Wq value of -1 exactly or any value below -1/3, given that it stays below -1/3 indefinitely.

2. May 8, 2013

### phinds

Yes, the current cosmological model does have the universe ending in heat death.

3. May 9, 2013

### bapowell

By Wq do you mean the equation of state, $w = p/\rho$? If so, $w<-1/3$ is the condition for inflation -- accelerated expansion -- which is not the only way to achieve heat death. As long as the universe is open or flat, so that the scale factor is monotonically increasing in the limit $t\rightarrow \infty$, the universe will succumb to heat death.