'Frame' symmetry breaking - when did it happen?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the concept of 'frame' symmetry breaking in the context of the universe's evolution, particularly concerning the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and the era of inflation. Participants explore the timing of this symmetry breaking and its implications for defining preferred frames in the universe.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a 'preferred' or 'rest' frame can be defined based on the observation of the CMB, and questions whether symmetry breaking occurred right after the era of inflation.
  • Another participant argues that the symmetry breaking would have occurred at the onset of inflation, not after.
  • A participant challenges this by stating that during inflation, space is void and thus no preferred frames exist.
  • It is proposed that the preferred frame arises from the field driving inflation, which is constant across locations.
  • One participant expresses gratitude for the clarification that symmetry breaking may have happened before inflation, possibly during the Planck era, while acknowledging the limited understanding of this period.
  • Another participant reiterates the uncertainty, suggesting that symmetry breaking could have occurred either before or at the onset of inflation, emphasizing the lack of knowledge about the mechanisms involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the timing of symmetry breaking, with some asserting it happened before inflation and others suggesting it occurred at the onset. The discussion remains unresolved, with no consensus on the exact timing or nature of the symmetry breaking.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations in understanding the events surrounding the Planck era and inflation, indicating that many assumptions remain unverified and the definitions of terms like 'preferred frame' may vary.

Dmitry67
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In any place of our universe we can define a 'preferred' or 'rest' frame based on the observation of the Cosmic Microwave Background. Of course, in different places of our universe these frames are different, but the idea is the same.

If instead of the CMB we define this frame based on the an isotropy of any forms of matter in that frame we can go backwards in time to the time before CMB.

If we take the 'void' universe, before the inflation, then there no 'preferred' frames can be defined because vacuum is the same nomatter how you move thru it. SO it was some kind of a symmetry breaking - before all frames we equal, then they are still mathematically equivalent (based on the SR/GR) but in some of them evenrything is isotropic while in the others it is not.

So my question - it is correct that this 'symmetry breaking' happened right after the era of inflation?
Why it is not usually called 'symmetry breaking'? May be it is something well known and I just don't know right words to search in arxiv?
Now the most difficult question: why in different places of our universe that symmetry breaking was consistent? (Ihope it is clear what I mean by that). Note that it happened after the inflation so the usual explanations based on the effects of the inflation can not be used.

Thank you
 
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The symmetry breaking would have been at the onset of inflation, not after.
 
why? during the era of inflation space is void as far as I know. Hence there are no preferred frames.
 
Dmitry67 said:
why? during the era of inflation space is void as far as I know. Hence there are no preferred frames.
The preferred frame stems from the field that drives inflation: it's the frame where the field takes on a constant value at all locations.
 
Thank you, it explains what puzzled me for so long!
So it happened BEFORE the inflation, hence, at the Planks era, hence, we don't know a lot about it :)
 
Dmitry67 said:
Thank you, it explains what puzzled me for so long!
So it happened BEFORE the inflation, hence, at the Planks era, hence, we don't know a lot about it :)
Well, maybe before, or maybe right at the onset of inflation. But either way, we don't even know that much about inflation yet, let alone what started it off. So right, we don't know much about the symmetry breaking that led to a preferred rest frame of the universe.
 

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