From big crunch to big bang
Open accessAbstract
We consider conditions under which a universe contracting towards a big crunch can make a transition to an expanding big bang universe. A promising example is 11-dimensional M theory in which the eleventh dimension collapses, bounces, and reexpands. At the bounce, the model can reduce to a weakly coupled heterotic string theory and, we conjecture, it may be possible to follow the transition from contraction to expansion. The possibility opens the door to new classes of cosmological models. For example, we discuss how it suggests a major simplification and modification of the recently proposed ekpyrotic scenario.
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Each of the other cosmological scenarios (pre-Big-Bang, ekpyrotic/cyclic, Aguirre-Gratton, and Bojowald loop quantum gravity) invokes special low-entropy conditions on some Cauchy surface, either asymptotically in the far past or at some moment of minimum size for the universe.
“To the best of our understanding, each of these proposals invokes special low-entropy conditions on some Cauchy surface, either asymptotically in the far past or at some moment of minimum size for the universe.”
From Spontaneous inflation and the origin of the arrow of time (2004) · cites this paper as [97]
Section VIII, “Cosmological Implications” (page unavailable), describes the ekpyrotic model as beginning in a nearly vacuous, quasistatic state with a specified brane configuration, supporting the claim that this scenario assumes a special early state. It does not characterize that state as low-entropy or place it on a Cauchy surface, and the passages found do not establish the claim for all the other named scenarios. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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Cites
Inflationary universe: A possible solution to the horizon and flatness problems
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Heterotic and Type I string dynamics from eleven dimensions
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Research works printed but not linked: 7
- For a recent review of the pre-big bang scenario, see G. Veneziano, hep-th/0002094. · arXiv
- For related ideas, see N. Kaloper, I. Kogan and K. Olive, hep-th/9711027, Phys.Rev. D57 (1998) 7340, Erratum-ibid. D60 (1999) 049901. · arXiv
- J. Khoury, B.A. Ovrut, P.J. Steinhardt and N. Turok, hep-th/0103239. · arXiv
- J. Polchinski, String Theory, Vols. I and II, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1998).
- B.A. Ovrut, T. Pantev and J. Park, hep-th/0001133, JHEP 0005 (2000) 045. · arXiv
- A. Adams, J. Polchinski and E. Silverstein, hep-th/0108075. · arXiv
- R. Kallosh, L. Kofman, A. Linde and A. Tseytlin, hep-th/0106241, and references therein; D. Lyth, hep-ph/0106153; · arXiv
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Komatsu, E., Dunkley, J., Nolta, M. R., Bennett, C. L., Gold, B., Hinshaw, G., Jarosik, N., Larson, D., Limon, M., Page, L., et al. (2009) · The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · doi:10.1088/0067-0049/180/2/330 · Cited by 5,786 · see citing works
Quantum Nature of the Big Bang
Ashtekar, A., Pawlowski, T., & Singh, P. (2006) · Physical Review Letters · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.96.141301 · Cited by 825 · see citing works
Cosmic evolution in a cyclic universe
Steinhardt, P. J., & Turok, N. (2002) · Physical Review D · doi:10.1103/physrevd.65.126003 · Cited by 813 · see citing works
Self-citationQuantum nature of the big bang: An analytical and numerical investigation
Ashtekar, A., Pawlowski, T., & Singh, P. (2006) · Physical Review D · doi:10.1103/physrevd.73.124038 · Cited by 609 · see citing works
Ekpyrotic and Cyclic Cosmology
Lehners, J.-L. (2008) · Physics Reports · doi:10.1016/j.physrep.2008.06.001 · Cited by 381 · see citing works
Easson, D. A., Sawicki, I., & Vikman, A. (2011) · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics · doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2011/11/021 · Cited by 291 · see citing works
Qiu, T., Evslin, J., Cai, Y.-F., Li, M., & Zhang, X. (2011) · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics · doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2011/10/036 · Cited by 206 · see citing works
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Carroll, S. M., & Chen, J. (2004) · arXiv · doi:10.48550/arxiv.hep-th/0410270 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
Quantum corrections to the cosmological evolution of conformally coupled fields
Cembranos, J. A. R., Olive, K. A., Peloso, M., & Uzan, J.-P. (2009) · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics · doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2009/07/025 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Symmetry restoration, tunneling, and the null energy condition
Alexandre, J., & Polonyi, J. (2022) · Physical Review D · doi:10.1103/physrevd.106.065008 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
- Authors
- Khoury, J., Ovrut, B. A., Seiberg, N., Steinhardt, P. J., & Turok, N.
- Affiliations
- Princeton University (US)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Venue
- Physical Review D
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Published
- 2002-04-09
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 8
- ISSN
- 0556-2821 (ISSN-L)
- 1089-4918
- OpenAlex
- W2138508917
- Cited by
- 635
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 42.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- arxiv.org
- Locations
- Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy (FG0291ER40671, FG0290ER40542)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
- Keywords
- Big Crunch, Big Bang, bounce cosmology, M-theory, heterotic string theory, ekpyrotic cosmology, cosmological models
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