Ronald, the "ad hoc" is because of the introduction of the inflatons which do nothing but, um, inflate...
Stephen said: b) some sound explanation where given as > to how an in principle unknowable phenomenon - the BB singularity itself - > is any different from a Creative Deity, sans only the anthropomorphisms. ACK! It seems that Steinhardt's model also attempts to solve the problem, at least according to wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_inflation#Alternatives_to_inflation BQuote The ekpyrotic and cyclic models are also considered competitors to inflation. These models solve the horizon problem through an expanding epoch well before the Big Bang, and then generate the required spectrum of primordial density perturbations during a contracting phase leading to a Big Crunch. The universe passes through the Big Crunch and emerges in a hot Big Bang phase. In this sense they are reminiscent of the oscillatory universe proposed by Richard Chace Tolman: however in Tolman's model the total age of the universe is necessarily finite, while in these models this is not necessarily so. Whether the correct spectrum of density fluctuations can be produced, and whether the universe can successfully navigate the Big Bang/Big Crunch transition, remains a topic of controversy and current research. EQuote But, as I've said, I haven't read any of the papers, so I dunno. Also, I'm not quite sure what to think of this whole Big Bang when adopting COMP - have to think about it yet... Cheers, Günther --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-l...@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
