The very first structures in the Universe

The very first moments of the Universe can be reconstructed mathematically even though they cannot be observed directly. Physicists from the Universities of Gottingen and Auckland (New Zealand) have greatly improved the ability of complex computer simulations to describe this early epoch. They discovered that a complex network of structures can form in the first trillionth of a second after the Big Bang.

The behaviour of these objects mimics the distribution of galaxies in today's Universe. In contrast to today, however, these primordial structures are microscopically small. Typical clumps have masses of only a few grams and fit into volumes much smaller than present-day elementary particles. The results of the study have been published in the journal Physical Review D.

The researchers were able to observe the development of regions of higher density that are held together by their own gravity. "The physical space represented by our simulation would fit into a single proton a million times over," says Professor Jens Niemeyer, head of the Astrophysical Cosmology Group at the University of Gottingen.

"It is probably the largest simulation of the smallest area of the Universe that has been carried out so far." These simulations make it possible to calculate more precise predictions for the properties of these vestiges from the very beginnings of the Universe.

Although the computer-simulated structures would be very short-lived and eventually "vaporise" into standard elementary particles, traces of this extreme early phase may be detectable in future experiments.

"The formation of such structures, as well as their movements and interactions, must have generated a background noise of gravitational waves," says Benedikt Eggemeier, a PhD student in Niemeyer's group and first author of the study. "With the help of our simulations, we can calculate the strength of this gravitational wave signal, which might be measurable in the future."

It is also conceivable that tiny black holes could form if these structures undergo runaway collapse. If this happens they could have observable consequences today, or form part of the mysterious dark matter in the Universe. "On the other hand," says Professor Easther, "If the simulations predict black holes form, and we don't see them, then we will have found a new way to test models of the infant Universe."

Research Report: "Eggemeier B et al, Formation of inflation halos after inflation"

Related Links
University Of Gottingen
Understanding Time and Space

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Mechanical cosmos recreated inside world's first analogue computer
Washington DC (UPI) Mar 12, 2021
Scientists have reconstructed a cosmological model to fit the complex arithmetic of the Antikythera Mechanism, the world's first analogue computer. One of the most sophisticated engineering feats to have survived from the ancient world, the 2,000-year-old Antikythera Mechanism was used by Greek astronomers to calculate the positions of the sun, moon and planets, as well as predict lunar and solar eclipses. The ancient astronomical calculator was first recovered from a Roman-era merchant ... read more