Predicting our Universe, past & present

[Widdekind]

Inspired by the National Geographic documentary Journey to the Edge of the Universe (DVD), it occurred to me, that our visual observations of the Cosmos could, quite conceivably, be sufficient for "retro-dicting" the Known Universe (Causally Connected regions of Spacetime beneath our Lightcone), and "pre-dicting" the Unknown Universe (Causally Disconnected regions of Spacetime above our Lightcone) -- including, in particular, the Modern Universe (what's happening, right now, across the Universe, even though the Light from those regions & events won't reach us for millions & billions of years more).

 

"A picture's worth a thousand words", so please see the attached figure.

 

Conceptually, such a simulation would amount to "total situational awareness", at the ultimate Cosmic scale.

[Martin]

Inspired by the National Geographic documentary Journey to the Edge of the Universe (DVD),...

 

"A picture's worth a thousand words", so please see the attached figure.

 

... "total situational awareness"...

 

Great picture! the dotted lines show paths of inference. Dotted lines down back into the past are inference about what was. Lines upwards are inference about what will be.

 

All the info we have is just what is on the lightcone. So your dotted arrows of inference all have their tails on the lightcone.

 

This picture shows exactly how cosmologists construct their picture of the universe.

 

There are certain horizons which you didn't show. You should look up a 2003 paper by Lineweaver that is on the arxiv. He puts in more detail. However your graphics are more attractive and noobie-friendly.

 

You should compile a looseleaf binder textbook and teach at the adult school. Cosmology for housewives and retired people. You have a really nice pseudo-crackpot style---that conceals much quite solid knowledge.

 

Lineweaver's 2003 "Inflation and the Cosmic Microwave Background" has some nice graphics too, but very black and white and no-nonsense.

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0305179

 

It shows the past lightcone in two types of coordinatres so in one it is coneshape and in the other it is teardrop shape (because back into a smaller universe) Same info different graphic presentation.

Edited June 3, 2009 by Martin