Why cant we see the light from the big bang ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of why we can detect cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) from the early universe but cannot observe light from the big bang itself. Participants explore concepts related to the timeline of the universe's evolution, the nature of electromagnetic radiation, and the opacity of the universe during its early stages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant wonders why microwaves from the big bang are detectable while visible light is not.
  • Another participant explains that the microwaves are a result of light from the big bang being stretched due to the universe's expansion.
  • Some participants note that the CMBR originates from a time when the universe became transparent, approximately 300,000 years after the big bang, and that the universe was opaque before this period.
  • There is a question regarding when electromagnetic radiation came into existence, with references to specific times after the big bang.
  • One participant suggests that photons could have been produced shortly after the big bang through mechanisms like particle-antiparticle annihilation, despite the electromagnetic force not splitting until later.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about advanced concepts like supersymmetry and symmetry breaking in relation to the discussion.
  • Links to external resources and articles are shared for further exploration of the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints regarding the timeline of electromagnetic radiation and the nature of the CMBR. There is no consensus on the specifics of photon production and the implications of early universe conditions.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the timeline of events and the nature of electromagnetic radiation are based on interpretations of existing literature, which may have limitations or unresolved aspects.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in cosmology, the early universe, and the nature of cosmic microwave background radiation may find this discussion relevant.

abueljihad
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hey guys,

i started wondering, why can we find microwaves that get back to the start of the universe and can't see a light the gets back to the big bang ?

thanks :) .p
 
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The microwaves that we see are the light from the big bang stretched out by the expanding universe to a much longer wave length.
 
thanks for the reply, can u help me find info about this subject on the web ? cause google is not really helping me right now :(
 
Have you tried CMBR?
 
The CMBR is from much later than the big bang. But we can't see past it because the universe was opaque before then.
 
DaleSpam said:
The CMBR is from much later than the big bang. But we can't see past it because the universe was opaque before then.

The CMBR began at about 300,000 yr post bang, yes? When did EM come into existence, visible or not?

GrayGhost
 
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Sorry Ben, that Wikipedia link is as deep as my knowledge goes on this topic. I do not understand supersymmetry and symmetry breaking at all.
 
  • #12
GrayGhost said:
The CMBR began at about 300,000 yr post bang, yes? When did EM come into existence, visible or not?

GrayGhost
Particle physics is not my forte, but, this what I surmise from the literature.
The photon is the carrier of the electromagnetic force. The EM force did not split until around 10E-12 after the big bang, but, that does not appear to prevent photons from being created sooner. Photons can be generated by electrons changing energy levels, or more importantly in this case, by particle - antiparticle annihilation. Electrons and quarks are believed to have came into existence during the big bang itself [electrons are fundamental particle just like quarks]. So, electron - antielectron and quark - antiquark annihilation looks like a viable mechanism for photon emission. So, it appears photons were being produced right from the get go [~10E-43 seconds after the main event], which makes sense. All of these primordial photons were, however, trapped until recombination [about 380,000 years after the big bang], so none of the 'original' photons are observationally accessible today. Here is an article that may help 'shed some photons' on the matter:
http://insidesu.syr.edu/2011/03/28/large-hadron-collider/
 
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