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Luminous matter may arise from a turbulent plasma state of the early universe

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  • Bak, Per
  • Paczuski, Maya

Abstract

The almost perfect uniformity of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, discovered by Penzias and Wilson in 1965 (Astrophys. J. 142 (1965) 419), appears to present clearcut evidence that the universe was uniform and in equilibrium at the decoupling transition when a plasma of protons and electrons condensed into a gas of Hydrogen. COBE indicates that only very small ripples of order 10-5 existed at decoupling. Gravity then caused hydrogen to cluster and possibly reheat parts of the universe to form the luminous matter that we observe today. We suggest an alternative scenario, where a spatially intermittent structure of extremely hot matter already existed in an otherwise uniform plasma state at the decoupling transition. The plasma was not in equilibrium but in a very high Reynolds number turbulent state. The sparse bursts would not affect the uniformity of the CMB radiation. Luminous matter originates from localized hot bursts already present in the plasma state prior to decoupling. No reheating, and no exotic matter is needed to get luminous matter.

Suggested Citation

  • Bak, Per & Paczuski, Maya, 2005. "Luminous matter may arise from a turbulent plasma state of the early universe," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 348(C), pages 277-280.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:348:y:2005:i:c:p:277-280
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2004.08.034
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