Abstract
In view of the time-symmetric nature of the laws of physics, time asymmetry in the universe must arise from “initial” conditions. A fully time-symmetric oscillating model is presented which exists in a highly compressed, highly ordered state att=0 and evolves forward, in the thermodynamic sense, as ∣t ∣ increases. This model offers the possibility of accounting for several fundamental and puzzling aspects of our universe, including matter-antimatter asymmetry, the large entropy per baryon, primordial density enhancements sufficient to form galaxies, and large-scale homogeneity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
P. C. W. Davies,The Physics of Time Asymmetry (University of California, Berkeley, 1977).
T. Gold, ed.,The Nature of Time (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1967).
G. J. Whitrow,The Natural Philosophy of Time (Nelson, London, 1961).
R. C. Tolman,Relativity, Thermodynamics, and Cosmology (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1934, pp. 439–44.
P. T. Landsberg and D. Park,Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A 346, 485 (1975).
D. Layzer,Ap. J. 206, 559 (1976).
J. D. Lathrop, private communication.
N. J. Carlton,J. Phys. A 11, 2207 (1978), and references cited therein.
D. W. Olson and J. Silk,Ap. J. 226, 50 (1978).
D. N. Schramm and R. V. Wagoner,Ann. Rev. Nucl. Sci. 27, 37 (1977).
G. J. Mathews and V. E. Viola, Jr.,Ap. J. 228, 375 (1979).
A. Sandage and G. A. Tammann,Ap. J. 196, 313 (1975).
D. H. Gudehus,Nature 275, 514 (1978).
J. R. Gott,Ap. J. 187, 1 (1974).
M. Bailyn,Phys. Rev. 15, 957 (1977).
S. Weinberg,Ap. J. 168, 175 (1971).
M. J. Rees,The Observatory 89, 193 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Walstad, A. Time's arrow in an oscillating universe. Found Phys 10, 743–749 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708420
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708420