How much did the universe grow during inflation?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Dav333
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Inflation Rate
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The universe underwent rapid expansion during inflation, increasing in size by a factor of 10^50 within approximately 10^-33 seconds after the Big Bang. This expansion means that distances between points in the universe grew significantly; for example, a distance of 1 meter between points (0,0) and (1,0) expanded to at least 10^30 meters post-inflation. The scale factor, denoted as a(t), is the mathematical representation of this growth, linking physical distances to comoving distances through the equation dphysical = a(t)dcomoving.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Big Bang theory
  • Familiarity with the concept of cosmic inflation
  • Basic knowledge of mathematical scaling factors
  • Awareness of physical versus comoving distances in cosmology
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mathematical implications of the scale factor a(t) in cosmology
  • Explore the concept of cosmic inflation in greater detail
  • Study the implications of rapid expansion on cosmic microwave background radiation
  • Learn about the observational evidence supporting inflationary theory
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, physicists, and students of cosmology who are interested in the early universe and the mechanisms of cosmic inflation.

Dav333
Messages
91
Reaction score
0
Was reading that shortly after the BB, the universe blow up by a factor of 10 to the 50 in 10-33 seconds.

What does 10 to the 50 mean in terms of distance & size? All i know is its a large number.
 
Space news on Phys.org
This is the factor by which physical distances grew. If you painted grid marks on the universe before inflation such that the distance between the points (0,0) and (1,0) was, say , 1 meter, then after inflation (during which the universe grew by at least a factor of around 10^30), the physical distance between these points would be equal to the amount of expansion -- at least 10^30 meters. Mathematically, the quantity that grows during inflation is the scale factor, a(t), which relates physical and comoving distances:

[tex]d_{physical} = a(t)d_{comoving}[/tex]
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
5K
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
8K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K