Omega pointe and the Big crunch theories

In summary, Omega is the symbol used to represent the density of the universe. If the density is less than 1, the expansion of the universe is dominant and the universe will expand forever. If the density is greater than 1, gravity wins and the universe will stop expanding and then collapse back into a Big Crunch. At Omega =1, there's just enough gravity to counter-balance the expansion and things slow to a stop.
  • #1
vincentm
323
3
Can someone explain the Omega pointe to me? In regards to the theory of the universe collapsing?
 
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  • #2
In a simplified nutshell, Omega is the symbol used to represent the density of the universe. Omega = 1 is the critical density where there's just enough stuff in the universe such that all that combined gravity is enough to eventually stop the expansion of the universe. If the density is less than that (Omega < 1), then the expansion of the universe is dominant over gravity and the universe will expand forever. If the density is greater (Omega > 1) then gravity wins and the whole universe will stop expanding and then collapse back into a Big Crunch. At Omega =1, there's just enough gravity to counter-balance the expansion and things slow to a stop.
 
  • #3
In a metaphysical mood, Frank Tipler has hypotesized that the Omega Point might be the ultimate fate of consciousness in the universe, equal to immortality or to knowing and understanding all what is knowable and understandable, what some people would call "becoming one with God".

He argues that conciousness, which at the moment seems to be an individual property of individual beings like us, will eventually become a collective property of a large system of matter/energy. Such a system could gradually encompass more and more of the matter/energy in the universe, eventually becoming a "universal consciousness".

If the universe would contract and collapse into a Big Crunch (Omega Point), time (at least subjective time according to the universal consciousness) might dilate to infinite before the Crunch actually happened, allowing the consciousness to compute everything which is computable, in other words, to know everything which is knowable.

Unfortunately for Tipler and this somehow comforting theory, the latest data seems to show that the universe is not going to contract towards a Big Crunch anyway...
 
  • #4
it seems that Tippler's ideas don't apply to the end of the universe due to accelerated expansion- but those ideas DO seem to have relavance in quantum computing- as it appears that any Universal Quantum Computer automatically performs something like Omega point computations [by definition]
 
  • #5
I'm a closet fan of quantum information theory.
 
  • #6
Phobos said:
In a simplified nutshell, Omega is the symbol used to represent the density of the universe. Omega = 1 is the critical density where there's just enough stuff in the universe such that all that combined gravity is enough to eventually stop the expansion of the universe. If the density is less than that (Omega < 1), then the expansion of the universe is dominant over gravity and the universe will expand forever. If the density is greater (Omega > 1) then gravity wins and the whole universe will stop expanding and then collapse back into a Big Crunch. At Omega =1, there's just enough gravity to counter-balance the expansion and things slow to a stop.
Yes, this is true for "classical" content of the universe (i.e. pressure greater or equal to 0). As soon as you consider dark energy with p < 0, this clear relationship between geometry and fate of the universe is lost.
 
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  • #7
setAI said:
it seems that Tippler's ideas don't apply to the end of the universe due to accelerated expansion- but those ideas DO seem to have relavance in quantum computing- as it appears that any Universal Quantum Computer automatically performs something like Omega point computations [by definition]

What about the resources (including time) that such a Universal Quantum Computer would need to perform Omega point computations?
 

What is the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory?

The Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory is a scientific concept that predicts the ultimate fate of the universe. It suggests that the universe will eventually stop expanding and will instead start contracting, leading to a state of extreme density and temperature known as the Big Crunch. This theory is based on the idea that the universe is finite and has a limited amount of energy.

What evidence supports the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory?

One of the main pieces of evidence for the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory is the observation of the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is believed to be leftover radiation from the Big Bang. This radiation is uniform in all directions, which supports the idea of a finite and expanding universe. Additionally, the observations of distant galaxies moving away from us at increasing speeds also support the concept of an expanding universe.

How does the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory relate to the concept of entropy?

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness of a system. According to the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory, as the universe continues to expand, it will eventually reach a state of maximum entropy, where all matter and energy will be evenly distributed and no useful energy will be available. This state is often referred to as the "heat death" of the universe.

What are some potential implications of the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory?

If the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory is correct, it could have significant implications for the future of our universe. It suggests that the universe has a finite lifespan and that eventually all matter and energy will be compressed into a single point, potentially leading to the creation of a new universe. It also has implications for the concept of time, as the universe would essentially "reset" itself in a never-ending cycle of expansion and contraction.

Are there any competing theories to the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory?

Yes, there are several competing theories to the Omega Point and Big Crunch Theory, including the Big Rip Theory, which suggests that the expansion of the universe will continue to accelerate until everything is torn apart, and the Steady State Theory, which proposes that the universe has always existed and will continue to expand forever. These theories are still being debated among scientists and there is currently no consensus on which one is correct.

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