What is the relationship between inflation and dark energy?

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The discussion explores the relationship between inflation and dark energy in the context of the universe's expansion. It raises questions about the causes of this expansion, including the Big Bang and the potential role of a scalar field linked to inflation. The conversation also touches on the implications of Einstein's equation, suggesting that if energy exceeds a certain threshold, the universe could collapse. Participants express curiosity about what lies beyond the universe's boundaries and the nature of causality in this context. Overall, the thread highlights the complexities of cosmic expansion and the interplay between dark energy and inflation.
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the universe is expanding, ok. but what is causing this? the big bang? in that case, what causes the expansion to accelerate or decelerate? and what is beyond the boundaries of the universe?
 
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It's possible that this dark energy can be related with the scalar field that caused inflation?
 
What is powering the exspansion? the fact that E=1.17XT (according to GR, if E is more than "1" the cosmos will collapse. My class calculated the age of the cosmos, based on this eq. at 13.989 BY. Not bad for college kids in a sophmore astrophysics class!

Just be glad it does not collapse. Then..who knows? Effect preceeds cause? what a mess.

Bill

www.wsdavis.org
 
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This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
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