Schwarzschild Radius of All Matter & Energy in Known Universe

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SUMMARY

The Schwarzschild radius (SR) cannot be applied to the known universe as it is not an isolated distribution of matter. The universe's configuration does not meet the criteria for asymptotic flatness, which is essential for defining a mass to calculate the Schwarzschild radius. This discussion highlights that the universe includes dark matter and all matter created during the Big Bang, but lacks a definitive SR due to its complex structure. Consequently, comparisons between the SR and the universe's radius post-inflation are not applicable.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity and spacetime concepts
  • Familiarity with the Big Bang theory and cosmic inflation
  • Knowledge of dark matter and its role in the universe
  • Basic grasp of Schwarzschild geometry and its implications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of asymptotic flatness in cosmology
  • Study the relationship between dark matter and cosmic structure
  • Explore advanced concepts in general relativity related to mass and curvature
  • Investigate the effects of cosmic inflation on the universe's expansion
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Astronomers, physicists, cosmologists, and anyone interested in the fundamental properties of the universe and the implications of general relativity.

Ontophobe
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Including dark matter but not including dark energy, what's the Schwarzschild radius of the known universe? Actually, let me put it another way. What's the SR of all the matter and energy thought to be created at the Big Bang? So that would include not just all the matter we see but also all the matter and antimatter that was created and subsequently annihilated itself. And furthermore, how does this SR compare to the radius of the universe when inflation ended/regular ol' accelerated expansion commenced? Are they the same, close, or way off?
 
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Ontophobe said:
what's the Schwarzschild radius of the known universe?

It doesn't have one. The universe is not an isolated distribution of matter surrounded by emptiness, which is the only configuration of matter (or spacetime) that the concept "Schwarzschild radius" can be applied to. (The more technical way of saying this is that the universe is not asymptotically flat, so there's no way to assign it a "mass" that you could plug into the formula for the Schwarzschild radius.)
 
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