What remains of an atom is ripped apart?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the speculative scenario of the "Big Rip" in cosmology, where the universe's expansion accelerates to the point of tearing apart galaxies, solar systems, and potentially atoms. Participants explore the implications of this scenario, including what might remain after such an event and whether the universe could recycle itself or lead to something beyond nothing.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a scenario where dark energy leads to the disbanding of galaxies and the tearing apart of matter, including atoms, in a process known as the "Big Rip."
  • Others express skepticism about the idea that bound systems, such as atoms or galaxies, would be ripped apart by dark energy, suggesting that these systems remain intact despite the universe's expansion.
  • A participant proposes that after the universe dilutes to near nothingness, there could be a scenario where quantum fluctuations might create new universes, although this is viewed with caution regarding its plausibility.
  • Another participant notes that the "Big Rip" scenario resembles the inflationary epoch at the universe's beginning but highlights that this model conflicts with fundamental assumptions in physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether bound systems would be affected by dark energy's expansion, indicating a lack of consensus on the implications of the "Big Rip" scenario.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the "Big Rip" model raises questions about the nature of dark energy and its effects on matter, but there are unresolved assumptions regarding the behavior of bound systems and the fundamental principles of physics involved.

lauthiamkok
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http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/dark_energy/de-fate_of_the_universe.php

"With dark energy, the fate of the universe might go well beyond the Big Chill. In the strangest and most speculative scenario, as the universe expands ever faster, all of gravity's work will be undone. Clusters of galaxies will disband and separate. Then galaxies themselves will be torn apart. The solar system, stars, planets, and even molecules and atoms could be shredded by the ever-faster expansion. The universe that was born in a violent expansion could end with an even more violent expansion called the Big Rip."

And then what? Does the universe recycle itself? Is there something after nothing?

What remains of an atom is ripped apart?
 
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Hrm. I'm pretty sure bound systems, such as the solar system, a galaxy (?), or atoms do not get "ripped apart" by the dark energy expansion.

But at any rate, after all this happens there is pretty much nothing. Matter dilutes and dilutes until there is hardly anything left. One can imagine a scenario in which every single particle is completely isolated and in its separate universe from all other particles. Not a very exciting time to live in.

Some will say that due to the fact that quantum mechanics allows for some pretty strange things to happen, although with exceedingly low probability, that eventually there will be a fluctuation which in essence "creates a new universe" and in this pocket of spacetime it all repeats again. I'd rather not take such notions too seriously, but it is a bit intriguing.
 
I had a long winded answer, but, nabeshin worded it better.
 
You're obviously talking about the "Big Rip" scenario.
There, the density of Dark Energy increases without bound, ripping everything apart. You end up whíth a state quite similar to the inflationary epoch at the beginning of the universe, so the universe might start all over again.
However, this model is at odds with some of our most basic assumptions about physics and reality.
 

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