Borde–Guth–Vilenkin theorem

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The Borde–Guth–Vilenkin theorem, or the BGV theorem, is a theorem in physical cosmology which deduces that any universe that has, on average, been expanding throughout its history cannot be infinite in the past but must have a past spacetime boundary.[1] The theorem does not assume any specific mass content of the universe and it does not require gravity to be described by Einstein field equations. It is named after the authors Arvind Borde, Alan Guth and Alexander Vilenkin, who developed its mathematical formulation in 2003.[2][3] The BGV theorem is also popular outside physics, especially in religious and philosophical debates.[3][4][5]

Alternative models, where the average expansion of the universe throughout its history does not hold, have been proposed under the notions of emergent spacetime, eternal inflation, and cyclic models. Vilenkin and Audrey Mithani have argued that none of these models escape the implications of the theorem.[6] In 2017, Vilenkin stated that he does not think there are any viable cosmological models that escape the scenario.[7]

Theoretical cosmologist Sean M. Carroll argues that the theorem only applies to classical spacetime, and may not hold under consideration of a complete theory of quantum gravity. He added that Alan Guth, one of the co-authors of the theorem, disagrees with Vilenkin and believes that the universe had no beginning.[8][9] Vilenkin argues that the Carroll-Chen model constructed by Carroll and Jennie Chen, and supported by Guth, to elude the BGV theorem’s conclusions persists to indicate a singularity in the history of the universe as it has a reversal of the arrow of time in the past.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Perlov, Delia; Vilenkin, Alexander (7 August 2017). Cosmology for the Curious. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. p. 330-31. ISBN 3319570404.
  2. ^ Borde, Arvind; Guth, Alan H.; Vilenkin, Alexander (15 April 2003). "Inflationary space-times are incomplete in past directions". Physical Review Letters. 90 (15): 151301. arXiv:gr-qc/0110012. Bibcode:2003PhRvL..90o1301B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.151301. PMID 12732026. S2CID 46902994.
  3. ^ a b Perlov, Delia; Vilenkin, Alexander (7 August 2017). Cosmology for the Curious. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. p. 330-31. ISBN 3319570404.
  4. ^ Copan, Paul; Craig, William Lane (2017-11-16). The Kalam Cosmological Argument, Volume 2: Scientific Evidence for the Beginning of the Universe. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 9781501335891.
  5. ^ Nagasawa, Y. (2012-07-25). Scientific Approaches to the Philosophy of Religion. Springer. ISBN 9781137026019.
  6. ^ Mithani, Audrey; Vilenkin, Alexander (20 April 2012). "Did the universe have a beginning?". arXiv:1204.4658 [hep-th].
  7. ^ Alexander Vilenkin, "The Beginning of the Universe" in The Kalam Cosmological Argument: Volume 2, Bloomsbury, 2017, pp 150 - 158
  8. ^ Carroll, Sean (2014-02-24). "Post-Debate Reflections". Sean Carroll Blog. Retrieved 2019-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ Carroll, Sean M. (2018-06-04). "Why Is There Something, Rather Than Nothing?". arXiv:1802.02231 [physics.hist-ph].
  10. ^ Vilenkin, Alexander (2013). "Arrows of time and the beginning of the universe". arXiv:1305.3836 [hep-th].

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