An inflationary explanation to the initial entropy problem

Vihan Patel, Charles Lineweaver

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    The early universe was markedly close to thermal equilibrium, as observed in the homogeneity of CMB photons with temperature deviations of ΔT/T~10-5. Yet, the 2nd Law ensures total entropy will increase. These two facts suggest that this state of thermal equilibrium is one of low entropy, at odds with the current understanding of the high entropic content of equilibrium states. Low initial gravitational entropy may be the cause of low entropy in the early universe. Penroses reliance on the fortunate initial value of the Weyl curvature tensor is insufficient in explaining low initial gravitational entropy. Rather, an inflationary model explains how an arbitrary universe could be driven to the specialness of low initial gravitational entropy. We suggest that the rapid expansion of false vacuum energy, and its decay during reheating, deposited matter and radiation into the universe homogenously and unclumped, hence in a state of low gravitational entropy. This puts the early universe in a low entropy state.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSciforum Electronic Conference Series
    Place of PublicationOnline
    PublisherConference Organising Committee
    Pages1-7pp
    EditionPeer Reviewed
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015
    Event2nd International Electronic Conference on Entropy and its Applications, ECEA-2 2015 - Online
    Duration: 1 Jan 2015 → …

    Conference

    Conference2nd International Electronic Conference on Entropy and its Applications, ECEA-2 2015
    Period1/01/15 → …
    OtherNovember 15-30 2015

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