How Relativity Explains Rapid Cosmic Expansion

How Relativity Explains Rapid Cosmic Expansion By G.M. Jackson Abstract: Cosmic rapid expansion resolves the horizon problem, the magnetic-monopole problem, and flatness problem. More than one hypothesis has been proffered to describe the mechanics of cosmic rapid expansion, including the inflaton hypothesis. Einstein’s theory of relativity can also explain the phenomenon of cosmic rapid expansion--even though such expansion appears to exceed the light-speed barrier. The mu-meson experiment conducted in 1962 by David H. Frisch and James H. Smith demonstrated the mu-meson decay rate slowed when mu-mesons moved at high subluminal speeds. In other words, the mu-meson’s proper time ran slower. This result was consistent with the following Lorentz equation: 1. According to equation 1, the faster you travel, the slower your proper time. The fast-moving mu-mesons aged more slowly than they would have if they were at rest. This raises a question: did Frisch and Smith also age more slowly? If the mu-mesons were considered at rest, then Frisch and Smith were the ones traveling at a high subluminal speed as they and the mu-mesons passed each other during the experiment. If Frisch and Smith did in fact discover the fountain of youth, then a person would never age if that person allowed a light beam to run past him at all times and considered the light at rest and himself in motion. His proper time would always be zero: The truth is Frisch and Smith did age normally. the ones at rest, not the mu-mesons: That suggests they were Thus it can be determined by experiment who or what is at rest and who or what is in motion. Further, the Lorentz equation indicates one’s proper time is determined by the ratio of one’s actual velocity with that of a photon’s. The result of the mu-meson experiment demonstrated that the famous twin-paradox thought experiment is not just science fiction. The twin riding in the spaceship ages more slowly than her sister back on earth. That implies the time on earth is running faster than the time on the spaceship: 2. From the spaceship twin’s perspective, time is running normally. When she arrives back on earth it is as if she traveled into the future. Not only is her sister older than her, the universe is older too. If the universe expanded in x amount of light-years in time t, then it also expanded x light-years in time t’. To the twin on earth, the universe’s expansion was normal, but to the spaceship twin, the expansion was rapid. Does this twin-paradox brand of rapid expansion apply to the early universe’s alleged rapid expansion? To answer this question, let’s engage in a new thought experiment. Imagine a universe just before its rapid-expansion phase. There exists at least two particles we will label Alice and Bob. Along with other particles, Alice and Bob are moving apart at velocities no greater than light speed according an outside observer named Sid: 3. Sid sees Alice and Bob moving apart, each at a velocity of distance D per time t. But Alice and Bob are experiencing proper time, so they each have a velocity of distance D per time t’: Since time t’ is less than time t, Bob and Alice will increase the space between them by a distance of 2D in less time. In fact, according to Alice and Bob, they are moving apart faster than light! Sid, of course, objects to such a claim. It is clear to him that Alice and Bob are moving apart no faster than light speed. However, this is a fictitious thought experiment. At the time before our universe’s rapid expansion, there was no observer named Sid. In fact there were no outside observers we can empirically verify. That means the only time that was available was the proper time of the stuff moving apart. If we go back to our toy universe and remove Sid from the picture, we just have the following: 4. If Alice and Bob are massless particles, time t’ could fall to zero, which would enable Alice and Bob to create space between them at a speed with no upper limit. Their universe would rapidly expand! As the volume of their universe expands, it cools down, massless radiation evolves into massive matter. Alice and Bob and other particles slow down. As they slow down, time t’ increases--their universe’s expansion rate slows to a rate we would find familiar. Conclusion: Special relativity can be used to explain the hypothetical rapid cosmic expansion of our early universe. If the expansion rate was a substantial subluminal speed (according to a fictitious observer at rest) and there was no other time than proper time, then it can be shown that, from the point of view of any observer expanding with the universe, rapid cosmic expansion can occur. 5.