The Big Bang: Light Before Matter?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter taylor__hasty
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Big bang Light
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of light in the context of the Big Bang and the existence of matter and antimatter. Participants explore how light could exist before the formation of matter, touching on concepts from theoretical physics and cosmology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant references a book by Neil Tyson discussing the asymmetry of matter and antimatter and questions how light could exist without electrons.
  • Another participant notes that annihilation of matter and antimatter is also a source of light.
  • A further elaboration states that electromagnetic radiation, or light, can arise from various processes including the acceleration of charges, changes in energy levels of charged particles, annihilation events, and high-energy collisions.
  • It is mentioned that when matter and antimatter collide, they annihilate, converting their energy into gamma rays, which are a high-frequency form of light.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints on the sources of light, indicating a lack of consensus on the primary mechanisms by which light could exist before matter.

Contextual Notes

Discussion includes assumptions about the nature of light and the conditions of the early universe, which may not be fully resolved or defined.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in cosmology, the nature of light, and the interplay between matter and antimatter may find this discussion relevant.

taylor__hasty
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
So I'm reading this book called "Origins" by Neil Tyson and in the beginning of the book he was talking about matter and antimatter and said "had this matter over antimatter asymmetry not emerged, the expanding universe would forever be composed of light and nothing he else".

Now, I know I'm very ignorant in science (but I'm trying to learn more) but from what I thought, light was caused from electrons changing levels. If no electrons existed yet, how was their light?


(Please excuse my ignorance on the subject :P)

Thanks!
:D
 
Space news on Phys.org
That isn't the only source of light. In this case, the anhillation of matter and anti-matter also produces light.
 
To elaborate, EM radiation, aka Light, is caused by the acceleration of charges, charged particles changing energy levels, annihilation events, and high energy collisions.
 
When matter and antimatter collide, they annihiliate one another, and their energy is converted to gamma rays, which is just a high frequency form of light.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Questions about the Location of the Big Bang and the Age of the Universe
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad Question about the big bang singularity
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
5K
High School Big Bang and Infinite Universe
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Undergrad Could it be that the Big Bang had no cause?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Shouldn't the Big bang be physically impossible?
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
4K
High School Why do we assume the big bang created matter/antimatter?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Do all geodesics begin and end at the big bang?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad Inflationary vs deflationary phase of Big Bang
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Undergrad Does the Cosmological Principle in any way underpin Big Bang Theory?
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
High School Does Roger Penrose's Big Bang cyclic-universe thing make sense?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K