Eternal inflation predicts that time will end

Raphael Bousso, Ben Freivogel, Stefan Leichenauer, and Vladimir Rosenhaus
Phys. Rev. D 83, 023525 – Published 26 January 2011

Abstract

Present treatments of eternal inflation regulate infinities by imposing a geometric cutoff. We point out that some matter systems reach the cutoff in finite time. This implies a nonzero probability for a novel type of catastrophe. According to the most successful measure proposals, our galaxy is likely to encounter the cutoff within the next 5×109 years.

  • Figure
  • Received 8 November 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.83.023525

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Raphael Bousso1,2,3, Ben Freivogel4, Stefan Leichenauer1,2, and Vladimir Rosenhaus1,2

  • 1Center for Theoretical Physics and Department of Physics University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-7300, USA
  • 2Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720-8162, USA
  • 3Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa-no-Ha, Kashiwa City, Chiba 277-8568, Japan
  • 4Center for Theoretical Physics and Laboratory for Nuclear Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA

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Issue

Vol. 83, Iss. 2 — 15 January 2011

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