Is the Big Bang a Result of a Spontaneous Singularity?

In summary, there is a theory that the original singularity leading to the big bang may have been created from a quantum fluctuation, but this is not a widely accepted idea in the scientific community. There are articles and resources available online for more information on the subject, including the Hartle-Hawking "no boundary" proposal. However, this theory should not be confused with the common misconception that the big bang was an explosion from a small, dense object.
  • #1
thetexan
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It seems I remember hearing (either on tv or mag) that there was a theory that the original singularity which resulted in the big bang could have been created from essentially nothing by ripples or something in the space energy...or something like that.

Can anyone point me toward any articles on this subject please?

tex
 
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It is possible that you got something like that off a TV show - but you won't find any reputable sources for it because it is pretty pop-sciencey.
If you are thinking of the big bang in terms of an infinitesimal spot of stuff exploding into the Universe as we know it... this is a common misconception.

The word "singularity" just means "special".
The state preceding the rapid-expansion phase which is often called "the big bang" was hot, dense, and , as far as we can tell, infinite... this is pretty special, not to be confused with the very small dense object GR suggests is inside a black hole (which is infinitesimal and finite) or the singularity of special relativity when relative velocities approach the speed of light (which is infinite).

Probably what you want is the idea that the pre-big-bang conditions come about as a quantum fluctuation ... for instance in the Hartle-Hawking "no boundary" proposal ... which you can google. For the rest, there are good googleable articles introducingbig-bang cosmology.

But this may help: http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec17.html
Perhaps you are asking in context of news like this:
https://medium.com/the-physics-arxi...aneously-from-nothing-ed7ed0f304a3#.mfr7c1vgj
 
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Thank you
 

1. What is a spontaneous singularity?

A spontaneous singularity refers to a hypothetical phenomenon in which a tiny point in space rapidly expands and creates a large amount of energy, potentially leading to the creation of a new universe.

2. How does a spontaneous singularity differ from a black hole?

A spontaneous singularity differs from a black hole in that it is thought to occur in empty space rather than as a result of the collapse of a massive star. Additionally, a black hole is a point of infinite density, while a spontaneous singularity is believed to have finite density.

3. Can spontaneous singularities really occur?

There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that spontaneous singularities actually occur in our universe. The concept is based on theoretical physics and remains a topic of ongoing research and debate.

4. What is the significance of spontaneous singularities in the study of the universe?

Spontaneous singularities are significant because they offer a potential explanation for the origin of the universe. If they were to occur, they could also provide insight into the fundamental laws of physics and the nature of space and time.

5. Are there any experiments being conducted to study spontaneous singularities?

As spontaneous singularities are a theoretical concept, there are currently no experiments being conducted to directly study them. However, scientists are conducting experiments and simulations to better understand the fundamental forces and laws that govern our universe, which may eventually shed light on the potential existence of spontaneous singularities.

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