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arXiv:hep-th/0410270hep-th

Spontaneous Inflation and the Origin of the Arrow of Time

Sean M. Carroll, Jennifer Chen

Abstract

We suggest that spontaneous eternal inflation can provide a natural explanation for the thermodynamic arrow of time, and discuss the underlying assumptions and consequences of this view. In the absence of inflation, we argue that systems coupled to gravity usually evolve asymptotically to the vacuum, which is the only natural state in a thermodynamic sense. In the presence of a small positive vacuum energy and an appropriate inflaton field, the de Sitter vacuum is unstable to the spontaneous onset of inflation at a higher energy scale. Starting from de Sitter, inflation can increase the total entropy of the universe without bound, creating universes similar to ours in the process. An important consequence of this picture is that inflation occurs asymptotically both forwards and backwards in time, implying a universe that is (statistically) time-symmetric on ultra-large scales.

arXiv comments
36 pages
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
hep-thHigh Energy Physics, Theory astro-phAstrophysics gr-qcGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

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Linked by 4 identifiable commenters in 4 comments across 4 threads, from Jul 2016 to May 2021.

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Discussed in comments4 threads

  1. Julian Barbour’s ideas about time and the universe have roamed free of academia 1 comment

    • Sean Carroll has also proposed two headed arrow of time. If the direction of time is towards increasing entropy, the starting point of time is the lowest entropy configuration in the universe. The arrow of time is pointing away from that point.…

      nabla9View on HNParent context

  2. The Octonion Math That Could Underpin Physics 1 comment

    • If you're looking for a deep look at time -- a Total Perspective Vortex, I'd recommend "Spontaneous Inflation and the Origin of the Arrow of Time". https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0410270

      politicianView on HNParent context

  3. The illusion of time 1 comment

    • > This looks like an eternal inflation model Yes, and the particular one I was thinking about was Carroll & Chen arXiv:hep-th/0410270. Rather than an expanding cosmology < (t-axis horizontal; x vertical) or an expanding and recollapsing <>, they have something closer to ><…

      raattgiftView on HNParent context

  4. LHCb unveils new particles 1 comment

    • Ok, well A.) It was clearly a joke. B.) That number was based off the Wikipedia heat death of the universe page reference for this: https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0410270 C.) Regardless of the correct amount of time, no one will be there to verify it. We don't even understand…

      givinguflacView on HNParent context

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