The beginning for time for beginners

[taylrl3]

Hi,

Basically I would like to learn about the beginning of time and I am wondering what literature I should read surrounding this.

**For the record; I have a Master's degree from a top university in Astrophysics**

Thanks in advance!

 

[phinds]

Not sure just what you are looking for. If you are interested in the very earliest developments in the universe, I suggest "The First Three Minutes" by Weinberg.

 

[mal4mac]

Do we know anything about the beginning of time? Shouldn't that title be "The First Three Minutes Except For The First Fraction of a Nanosecond"? GR suggest that time begins with the Big Bang, but GR breaks down at very small scales, i.e., during that first fraction of a Nanosecond. So there actually isn't *any* sensible literature about the beginning.

 

[phinds]

Do we know anything about the beginning of time?

no

Shouldn't that title be "The First Three Minutes Except For The First Fraction of a Nanosecond"?

yes

 

[danshawen]

There is a theory that time itself did not exist until there were electrons and photons, but I'm not so sure about needing the electrons any more (because pairs of virtual photons can be produced without electrons) nor for that matter, , whether time actually exists for energy at all (because according to STR, time does not exist at the speed of light).

Pairs of photons (or else an electron and a photon) are essential to having photons with energy that is defined, and also to the formulation of the theories of relativity (because it's the part that makes an observer necessary in the first analysis).

Sorry, I don't have a good reference for your questions about time. As an astrophysicist, I would be paying more attention to things like the BICEP polarization studies on the cosmic background radiation. It sure is interesting.

 

[Vanadium 50]

There is a theory that time itself did not exist until there were electrons and photons

Please provide a reference.