Chapter 27: Problem 26

Describe the observational evidence for (a) the Big Bang, (b) the inflationary epoch, (c) the confinement of quarks, and (d) the era of recombination.

Short Answer

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The observational evidence for the Big Bang includes the redshift of distant galaxies and the cosmic microwave background (CMB). The inflationary epoch is evidenced by the large-scale uniformity of the CMB and the formation of galaxies. The confinement of quarks is evidenced by high-energy experiments, where quarks are observed only in combinations, not individually. And the era of recombination is evidenced by the uniform CMB, indicative of a time when the universe was filled with a dense, hot plasma that eventually led to the formation of atoms.

Step by step solution

Evidence for the Big Bang

To provide evidence for the Big Bang, it is important to mention the observations that led to its formulation. Particularly significant are (1) the redshift of distant galaxies, which indicates that the universe is expanding; and (2) the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, which is the remnant radiation from the initial high temperature state of the universe.

Evidence for the inflationary epoch

Inflationary epoch refers to the extremely short, early burst of exponential expansion of the universe. Observational evidence comes from the large-scale uniformity of the CMB and the formation of galaxies and large-scale structures. The slight fluctuations in the CMB are also evidence for the quantum fluctuations that would have occurred during the inflationary epoch.

Evidence for the confinement of quarks

Quarks are elementary particles that are never seen in isolation. This phenomenon, known as quark confinement, is explained by the theory of quantum chromodynamics. Evidence for the confinement of quarks comes from high-energy experiments, such as those conducted in particle accelerators, where quarks are seen only in combinations forming protons, neutrons and other particles, but never individually.

Evidence for the era of recombination

The era of recombination refers to the period in the universe's history when atoms first formed as the universe cooled. The primary observational evidence for this era is the CMB. The CMB is remarkably uniform, as expected if it originated in an era when the universe was filled with a dense, hot plasma of electrons, protons and light. As the universe cooled, these particles combined to form neutral atoms, and the light was set free, resulting in the CMB we observe today.

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Describe the observational evidence for (a) the Big Bang, (b) the inflationary epoch, (c) the confinement of quarks, and (d) the era of recombination.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Evidence for the Big Bang

Evidence for the inflationary epoch

Evidence for the confinement of quarks

Evidence for the era of recombination

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