Problems With The Standard Model
Problems With The Standard Model
Problems With The Standard Model
Spring 2006
The Standard Cosmological Model Problems with the Standard Model The Flatness Problem The Horizon Problem The Structure Problem The Relic Problem The Antimatter Problem Summary
ASTR340
Spring 2006
The present standard model, the Big Bang model, was developed around three major pieces of experimental evidence: The expansion of the universe (discovered by E. Hubble in 1929). The 3K cosmic background radiation (showing that the Universe is isotropic and homogeneous Cosmological Principle). The hydrogen-helium abundance (perfect match between predictions for the abundance of the light elements and observations).
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
We measure 1 within 1 percent or better, which is surprising. Why are we so close to this special case?
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
If the Universe is 13.7 billion years ago, our particle horizon is 13.7 billion light years.
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
T = 2.728 K How could the Universe be in thermal equilibrium on scales much larger than the particle horizon? At the time the photons were actually emitted, they would have been 100 times the age of the universe apart, or 100 times causally disconnected.
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
Red spots are a bit (1 part in a million) warmer than blue spots. These red spots have a higher density, and galaxy clusters can form due to gravitational collapse.
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
Dislocations in steel
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
An equal number of particles/antiparticles is therefore expected. By the time the universe is 1 millisecond old, the balance between matter and antimatter is fixed forever. However, we don't observe anti-stars or anti-galaxies.
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
ASTR340
Spring 2006
Summary
The standard Big Bang model is a synergy of astrophysics and particle physics, successful in explaining most aspects of modern cosmology. There is a need for inflationary models, however, to solve the flatness, horizon, smoothness, etc. problems. Other problems have not been answered yet, such as the formation of structure in the Universe, missing monopoles, the nature of the dark matter, etc. More complex theories that unite gravity, strong and electroweak such as supersymmetry, supergravity, and superstring theories, might solve some of these questions, in combination of observing strategies to detect the missing mass.