What Equation Determines the Cosmic Event Horizon Distance?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying an equation that determines the distance of the cosmic event horizon at various times after the Big Bang. Participants explore the concept of the cosmic event horizon, its implications, and related equations in cosmology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests an equation for calculating the cosmic event horizon distance over time after the Big Bang.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on the term 'cosmic event horizon' and its implications regarding light and the expansion of space.
  • A reference to Equation 28 in Davis and Lineweaver is provided as a potential source for the equation.
  • A participant shares a personal exploration involving the gravitational constant and its relation to the cosmic event horizon, suggesting a calculated mass for the universe.
  • There is mention of uncertainty regarding whether to use the event or particle horizon in calculations.
  • Another participant argues that the observable universe should be considered, emphasizing the importance of causal connections at present.
  • Concerns are raised about the association of the event horizon with recession velocities exceeding the speed of light, referencing a figure from the previously mentioned paper.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriate equations and concepts related to the cosmic event horizon, indicating that multiple competing interpretations and uncertainties remain in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the definitions and implications of the cosmic event horizon, as well as the relationships between constants like the gravitational constant and the mass of the universe over time.

Jay B
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TL;DR
I'm trying to calculate the distance of the cosmic event horizon at different times following the big bang.
Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can share an equation that would give the distance of the cosmic event horizon for a given time after the big bang. Thanks for any help!

Jay
 
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Jay B said:
Summary: I'm trying to calculate the distance of the cosmic event horizon at different times following the big bang.

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can share an equation that would give the distance of the cosmic event horizon for a given time after the big bang. Thanks for any help!
Before the cosmology guys get here, can you explain what you mean by the phrase 'cosmic event horizon?'
 
Jay B said:
Summary: I'm trying to calculate the distance of the cosmic event horizon at different times following the big bang.

I'm hoping someone can share an equation that would give the distance of the cosmic event horizon for a given time after the big bang.
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/big-bang-happen/
 
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pinball1970 said:
Before the cosmology guys get here, can you explain what you mean by the phrase 'cosmic event horizon?'
The distance past which light emitted today would never be able reach us because the expansion of space between Earth and that sphere is expanding faster than the speed of light (or will be).
 
Ibix said:
Equation 28 in Davis and Lineweaver
https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0310808
Thanks for the link! I'm having a little bit of a hard time working through the equations, but I'll keep at it.
 
I've seen this diagram on a few sites.
1659813101413.png

I went down this rabbit hole while watching a video about Mach's principal. It showed the following equation for the gravitational constant: G ≈ c^2 * radius of the universe / mass of the universe. I've always been interested in G, so I fiddled with it a bit. I used the current estimate of the cosmic event horizon to calculate a mass for the universe of about 2.01 * 10^53 kg, which is pretty close to the estimates I've seen. I figured that event horizon was the correct number to use since that would also be the distance beyond which there could be no gravitational interactions. I did go back and forth about if the event or particle horizon would be most appropriate, and I may well have chosen incorrectly.

Since the event horizon (Radius) has changed over time, this would necessitate that at least one other term is variable if the equation is to hold true meaning either G, c, or the mass of the universe has changed over time (or that I'm completely misunderstanding what I'm looking at). I'd be interested to hear how anyone else would interpret this.
 
It should be the observable universe, so particle horizon and the mass within. You want all the things causally connected at present. Event horizons are about the extreme future.

The nuts and bolts of the Mach's principle are over my head, so I don't know what it does or doesn't imply about any constants.

Btw, it's not generally true that the event horizon is associated with recession velocities exceeding c. See Fig.1 in that paper from post #4. The latter is designated 'Hubble sphere' on those graphs. It coincides with the former only when the acceleration is exponential.
 

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