The BIG Bang

Hubble Telescope  This image is taken of galaxies that are billions of light-years away. Light takes a very long time to travel to Earth.  Consequently, this photograph is of the conditions that existed billions of years ago, just a billion years or so after the big bang.  Astronomers have thus created a time machine of sorts.  This image is taken of galaxies that are billions of light-years away. Light takes a very long time to travel to Earth.  Consequently, this photograph is of the conditions that existed billions of years ago, just a billion years or so after the big bang.  Astronomers have thus created a time machine of sorts.

Ancient Greek Cosmology In the beginning there was an empty darkness. The only thing in this void was Nyx (Chaos), a bird with black wings. With the wind she laid a golden egg and for ages she sat upon this egg. Finally life began to stir in the egg and out of it rose Eros, the god of love. One half of the shell rose into the air and became the sky and the other became the Earth. Eros named the sky Uranus and the Earth he named Gaia. Then Eros made them fall in love.

Familiar Cosmology 1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Modern Cosmology  Approximately 15 billion years ago, all of the matter in the universe was concentrated at a single point  A cataclysmic explosion (of biblical proportions perhaps?) called the Big Bang caused the matter to fly apart.  Approximately 15 billion years ago, all of the matter in the universe was concentrated at a single point  A cataclysmic explosion (of biblical proportions perhaps?) called the Big Bang caused the matter to fly apart. In the intervening years, the universe has been expanding, cooling as it goes.

Consequences of the Big Bang  If the universe did come into existence through a cataclysmic explosion, there should be some evidence. Four forms which will be discussed are:  The universe should be expanding  The universe should have a measurable temperature.  The mix of the elements should be known.  Matter should be evenly distributed  If the universe did come into existence through a cataclysmic explosion, there should be some evidence. Four forms which will be discussed are:  The universe should be expanding  The universe should have a measurable temperature.  The mix of the elements should be known.  Matter should be evenly distributed

Doppler Effect The Doppler effect says that things moving away from you look redder than they would if they weren’t moving. Things moving towards you look more blue.

Cosmic Speedometer  When a galaxy is moving away from us, light waves travelling to us are red-shifted  Hubble measured the spectrum of these galaxies and found the spectral lines to be red-shifted  When a galaxy is moving away from us, light waves travelling to us are red-shifted  Hubble measured the spectrum of these galaxies and found the spectral lines to be red-shifted The faster the recession, the greater the red-shift

Edwin Hubble  Using the Doppler effect, Edwin Hubble discovered that objects that were further away move away faster (and, hence, were redder) than nearer objects.  This discovery showed that the universe was expanding and still provides one of the best measurements of the age of the universe.  Using the Doppler effect, Edwin Hubble discovered that objects that were further away move away faster (and, hence, were redder) than nearer objects.  This discovery showed that the universe was expanding and still provides one of the best measurements of the age of the universe.

Black Body Radiator Universe A black body radiator is one which absorbs all light which is incident on it. Such a body can also emit light, if sufficiently hot. The universe should thus have a temperature and an ‘afterglow’.

Afterglow From the Big Bang In 1964, while working at Bell Labs, Penzias and Wilson discovered a radio hiss that they couldn’t make go away. They had (by accident!) discovered the remnant ‘echo’ of the Big Bang The universe was shown to have a temperature of 2.726K (-450 °F)

COsmic Background Explorer  In 1992, COBE announced a measurement that showed that the background radiation was not quite uniform (although nearly so)  This measurement records information approximately 300,000 years after the Big Bang  In 1992, COBE announced a measurement that showed that the background radiation was not quite uniform (although nearly so)  This measurement records information approximately 300,000 years after the Big Bang

Helium Abundance in the Universe  At the late time (as we shall see) of 3 minutes in the history of the universe, atomic nuclei were created.  Big Bang theory predicts that the relative abundances of hydrogen and helium were:  Hydrogen 76%  Helium 24%  Lithium 1 part per  At the late time (as we shall see) of 3 minutes in the history of the universe, atomic nuclei were created.  Big Bang theory predicts that the relative abundances of hydrogen and helium were:  Hydrogen 76%  Helium 24%  Lithium 1 part per Due to nuclear fusion in stars since the Big Bang, current abundances: –Hydrogen 73% –Helium 26% –Everything else 1%

 The Big Bang theory is consistent with observations. Specifically ……….

Doppler Red Shift light coming from other galaxies is shifted to the red end of the spectrum indicates galaxies are moving away from each other and US universe is expanding. more red shift in distant galaxies - moving away faster - consistent with theory light coming from other galaxies is shifted to the red end of the spectrum indicates galaxies are moving away from each other and US universe is expanding. more red shift in distant galaxies - moving away faster - consistent with theory

CMB  Cosmic Background Radiation - 3K temperature everywhere - leftover heat energy from big bang  Cosmic Background Radiation - 3K temperature everywhere - leftover heat energy from big bang

Element Composition  Universe is mostly hydrogen - the first element that would have been made after the Big Bang.  Hydrogen 73%  Helium 26%  Everything else 1%  Universe is mostly hydrogen - the first element that would have been made after the Big Bang.  Hydrogen 73%  Helium 26%  Everything else 1%

Uniformity  Matter should be uniformly distributed throughout the universe - galaxies are evenly distributed  Matter should be uniformly distributed throughout the universe - galaxies are evenly distributed

The really interesting question is: What happened when the universe was young and hot?

History of the Universe  In the beginning, the universe was really, really, hot.  Consequently, things looked very different in the beginning.  In the beginning, the universe was really, really, hot.  Consequently, things looked very different in the beginning.

Summary: Timeline of the Universe

The Big Question How do you get something as hot as it was during the Big Bang? Smash stuff together!! How do you get something as hot as it was during the Big Bang? Smash stuff together!! Hot!

E = m c 2 Energy is Matter Matter is Energy Lots of energy makes lots of matter and vice versa!!!!!!