Upper Limit of Universe Rotation: 10^-8 & 10^-15 Rad/yr

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SUMMARY

The upper limit on the rotation rate of the universe is established at approximately 10^-8 rad/yr based on solar-system measurements, as noted by Clemence, C.M. in 1957. In contrast, model-dependent measurements of correlations in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) yield varying limits: Barrow et al. (1985) propose a limit of 10^-15 rad/yr, while Su and Chu (2009) suggest a limit of 10^-9 rad/yr. The discrepancy between these findings raises questions about the assumptions made in different models, particularly regarding the flatness of the universe.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) measurements
  • Familiarity with astronomical rotation concepts
  • Knowledge of model-dependent versus model-independent measurements
  • Basic grasp of cosmological principles regarding the universe's structure
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of model-independent measurements in cosmology
  • Study the methodologies used in CMB correlation measurements
  • Examine the assumptions made in Barrow et al.'s 1985 paper on universal rotation
  • Explore the findings of Su and Chu's 2009 research on cosmic rotation limits
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Astronomers, cosmologists, and physics researchers interested in the dynamics of the universe and the implications of rotation on cosmological models.

bcrowell
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Solar-system measurements put a model-independent upper limit on the rate of rotation of the universe of about 10^-8 rad/yr: Clemence, C.M. (1957). 'Astronomical Time', Rev. Mod. Phys. Vol. 29, p. 2

Measurements of correlations in the CMB can also be used to impose an upper limit, but this is model-dependent. Two papers on this are:
-Barrow, J. D., Juszkiewicz, R., & Sonoda, D. H., "Universal rotation: how large
can it be?," 1985 -- http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1985MNRAS.213..917B
-Su and Chu, "Is the universe rotating?," 2009, http://arxiv.org/abs/0902.4575
Barrow's limit comes out to be 10^-15 rad/yr (assuming a flat universe, which we now know to be the case), whereas Su and Chu's is 10^-9 rad/yr. So 24 years later, the upper limit appears to have been relaxed by a factor of a million. Is this (a) because Barrow messed up, or (b) because it's model-dependent, and Barrow makes different assumptions than Su?
 

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