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In What Sense Is the Early Universe Fine-Tuned?

Carroll, Sean M. (2014) In What Sense Is the Early Universe Fine-Tuned? . (Submitted) https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20140716-105154654

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Abstract

It is commonplace in discussions of modern cosmology to assert that the early universe began in a special state. Conventionally, cosmologists characterize this fine-tuning in terms of the horizon and flatness problems. I argue that the fine-tuning is real, but these problems aren't the best way to think about it: causal disconnection of separated regions isn't the real problem, and flatness isn't a problem at all. Fine-tuning is better understood in terms of a measure on the space of trajectories: given reasonable conditions in the late universe, the fraction of cosmological histories that were smooth at early times is incredibly tiny. This discussion helps clarify what is required by a complete theory of cosmological initial conditions.


Item Type:Report or Paper (Discussion Paper)
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://arxiv.org/abs/1406.3057v1arXivArticle
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Carroll, Sean M.0000-0002-4226-5758
Additional Information:Imported from arXiv. It is a pleasure to thank David Albert for inspiration and conversations over the years, Barry Loewer for his patience, Shelly Goldstein for useful discussions, my collaborators Heywood Tam and Grant Remmen for their invaluable insights, and Tim Maudlin for the interactions that proximately inspired this paper. This research is funded in part by DOE grant DESC0011632, and by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation through Grant 776 to the Caltech Moore Center for Theoretical Cosmology and Physics.
Group:Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics, Caltech Theory, Moore Center for Theoretical Cosmology and Physics
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Department of Energy (DOE)DESC0011632
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation776
Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics at CaltechUNSPECIFIED
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
CALT-TH2014-141
DOI:10.48550/arXiv.1406.3057v1
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20140716-105154654
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20140716-105154654
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:47263
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Joy Painter
Deposited On:16 Jul 2014 23:38
Last Modified:02 Jun 2023 00:20

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