Collapsing universe before time

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Shiu, Gary, Tonioni, Flavio, Tran, Hung V.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Shiu, Gary
Tonioni, Flavio
Tran, Hung V.
author_facet Shiu, Gary
Tonioni, Flavio
Tran, Hung V.
contents In this note, we prove analytic bounds on the equation of state of a cosmological fluid composed of an arbitrary number of canonical scalars evolving in a negative multi-exponential potential. Because of the negative energy, the universe is contracting and eventually undergoes a big crunch. A contracting universe is a fundamental feature of models of ekpyrosis and cyclic universes, which are a proposed alternative to cosmic inflation to solve the flatness and horizon problems. Our analytic bounds set quantitative constraints on general effective theories of ekpyrosis. When applied to specific top-down constructions, our bounds can be used to determine whether ekpyrosis could in principle be realized. We point out some possible sources of tension in realizing the ekpyrotic universe in controlled constructions of string theory.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2312_06772
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Collapsing universe before time
Shiu, Gary
Tonioni, Flavio
Tran, Hung V.
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
Dynamical Systems
In this note, we prove analytic bounds on the equation of state of a cosmological fluid composed of an arbitrary number of canonical scalars evolving in a negative multi-exponential potential. Because of the negative energy, the universe is contracting and eventually undergoes a big crunch. A contracting universe is a fundamental feature of models of ekpyrosis and cyclic universes, which are a proposed alternative to cosmic inflation to solve the flatness and horizon problems. Our analytic bounds set quantitative constraints on general effective theories of ekpyrosis. When applied to specific top-down constructions, our bounds can be used to determine whether ekpyrosis could in principle be realized. We point out some possible sources of tension in realizing the ekpyrotic universe in controlled constructions of string theory.
title Collapsing universe before time
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
Dynamical Systems
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.06772