What happens to the universe after 10^(trillion) years?

[Jonnyb42]

What will be happening 10^(trillion) years from now?

Sorry if this is posted in a wrong section.

 

[Vagn]

It depends on whether the proton is stable or not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_an_expanding_universe#Dark_Era

 

[Jonnyb42]

Are there people who study the history and future of the universe... and are those people called cosmologists?

 

[Vagn]

Yes and yes. :)

 

[fillipeano]

Here's a link to the wikipedia page about cosmological decades:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmological_decade

 

[Jonnyb42]

It's known that these particles wont' ever merge again?

 

[mrspeedybob]

Are asking specifically about 10^1,000,000,000,000 years from now or are you asking about the end state configuration of the universe? I'll assume the later...

Everything that is not gravitationally bound together will move apart until our local super-group of galaxies is alone in the observable universe. As the stuff in our local super-group continues to orbit around the orbits will gradually decay until all the mater in the observable universe is contained in a single super-massive black hole.

This black hole will radiate. Most of the particles produced will eventually fall back in but some will have enough velocity to get far enough away that cosmic expansion takes over and removes them from the observable universe, this continues until the black hole has completely evaporated.

The end state is that every fundamental particle in existence is alone in it's observable universe.

At least that's my understanding.

 

[Jonnyb42]

Interesting, I was though asking specifically 10^1,000,000,000,000 years from now.

 

[Dremmer]

Interesting, I was though asking specifically 10^1,000,000,000,000 years from now.

If the proton does not decay, there may still be some neutron stars and black dwarfs left in the universe at that time. In about 10^10^76 years though, they may quantum tunnel into black holes which would eventually evaporate, leaving a similar end state to that there would be if the proton did decay (every fundamental particle in existence being alone in it's observable universe). It would just take longer for the universe to get there than if the proton did decay.

 

[qraal]

Interesting, I was though asking specifically 10^1,000,000,000,000 years from now.

A strange time period to single out. Any reason why?

Double exponential notation means you can write that as 10^10^12 which is a bit easier to do.

 

[Tanelorn]

Quite incredible to realize that nothing, not even the entire universe lasts for ever. A Concidental reminder as today I start my 5th decade..

 

[Jonnyb42]

congratulations!

 

[Tanelorn]

Thanks Jonny, I hope I get to celebrate many more!