parallel universe
DESCRIPTION
Parallel universeTRANSCRIPT
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A Parallel universe or a multiverse is a hypothetical set
of multiple possible universes that together comprise
everything that exist including space, time, matter, and
energy.
The structure and functionality of multiverses, including
the different universes in the multiverse, depend on the
hypothetical set that is being considered. These universes are
all related to our universe. They must’ve branched out of our
universe or our universe branched out from another
universe. With these parallel universes, our wars would’ve
had different outcomes and species extinct here must survive
somewhere else.
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Many theories have been proposed to substantiate the
existence of parallel universe. Of these theories, the most
significant ones are
1) Tegmark’s classification,
2) Cyclic model,
3) Membrane theory, and
4) Anthropic principle.
The most important hypothesis among them is the Tegmark’s
classification as it is the simplest model and the most
practical one with sufficient evidence to support the theory.
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This theory was proposed by Dr. Max Tegmark in the
year 2003. He published many papers relating to the parallel
universe which helped him feature the cover page of the
“Science” magazine in December 2003.
He provided taxonomy for the multiverses beyond the
observable universe. According to his theory, the multiverses
are classified into 4 levels such that each level is an extension
of the previous level.
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Level 1: Beyond our cosmic horizon
In this level, the different parallel universes are proposed
to be identical to each other including the physical laws like
conservation of mass and energy. In particular, there are
many other inhabited planets in other universes with people
with same name, appearance and memories as someone on
planet earth. The only difference between the different
parallel universes is the initial conditions of each universe i.e.
after the inflation epoch. The initial conditions differ due to
the motion of matter after The Big Bang explosion.
Assumptions:
1. The space is considered to be infinitely expanding
in all directions
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Level 2: Universes with different physical laws
Level 2 multiverses is an infinite set of distinct level 1
multiverses with different dimensionality and different
physical constants. Each level 1 multiverse is considered to be
a bubble such that the spaces between the bubbles keep
expanding. These other domains are more than infinitely far
away in the sense that you would never get there even if you
travelled at the speed of light forever. The reason is that the
space between our Level I multiverse and its neighbours is
still undergoing inflation, which keeps stretching it out and
creating more volume faster than you can travel through it.
According to chaotic inflation theory, the places where
inflation ends gives rise to the universes and the rest of the
space keeps expanding exponentially.
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Level 3: Many worlds of Quantum Physics
In Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI), there is only one
universe that has spilt into many other universes with the
course of time. If fundamental equations of physics are
related to the mathematical theory of unitary, then the
universe keeps branching into parallel universes.
This theory was supported by Schrodinger’s Cat
experiment. He put a cat into a box and exposed it to a
radioactive substance. The cat would die only when the
radioactive substance decays. Hence during the transition
state where the radioactive substance is on verge of decaying,
the cat is simultaneously dead and alive.
In a level 3 multiverse, the events occur simultaneously
in all the parallel universes and the total probability (i.e.
equal to 1) is satisfied. But the outcome of the event may be
different in the different parallel universes.
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Level 4: Other Mathematical Structures
Every universe is said to be governed by some equations
that specify the structure and functionality of the universe. A
very interesting question arises at this stage: Why only these
equations and not others? Hence this level considers
universes governed by other real mathematical equations.
There is a mathematical structure associated to each physical
world called isomorphs and each physical entity has a
mathematical counterpart in the mathematical structure.
The various multiverses follow different fundamental
equations of physics.
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Before getting into the details of this hypothesis, let’s
first define a fractal. A fractal is an object or quantity that
displays self-similarity on all scales. The object need not
exhibit exactly the same structure at all scales, but the same
"type" of structures must appear on all scales.
The Cyclic Multiverse is considered to be a self-similar fractal
which might have formed just like a snowflake would.
nything from the curvature of space-time to the pattern of A
a snowflake can ultimately explained with the fractal
dimension.
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A multiverse is explained by a multidimensional
extension of string theory. Before relating the string theory to
the multiverse let’s get the basic concepts of string theory
clear.
String theory attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics
and general relativity. It states that the quarks and electrons
within an atom are 1-dimensional oscillating lines.
P-branes are the spatially extended mathematical
concept in string theory where p denotes the number of
dimensions.
D-branes are membranes of different dimensionality.
They have mass and charge. They emit and absorb closed
strings of a structure.
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According to M Theory, our universe and others are
created by collisions between p-branes in space with 11-26
dimensions. Objects in each universe are confined to the d-
branes of the universe, but may be able to interact with other
universes via gravity.
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The concept of other universes has been proposed to explain
how our Universe appears to be fine-tuned for conscious life.
If there were a large number of universes, each with possibly
different physical laws, some of these universes, even if very
few, would have the combination of laws and fundamental
parameters that are suitable for the development of matter,
astronomical structures, elemental diversity, stars, and
planets that can exist long enough for life to emerge and
evolve. The weak anthropic principle could then be applied to
conclude that life would only exist in one those few universes
that happened to be finely tuned, permitting the existence of
life with developed consciousness.
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The various hypotheses have been widely criticised by
many people due to the absence of physical evidence. The
question that comes to every mind is: when there are so many
unknowns in our solar system how can we predict what’s
outside our universe so confidently?
All these theories are based more on faith than scientific
proofs. To believe or not believe the theory is up to the person.
It is similar to many other controversial theories (existence of
god for instance) which depend on the mind-set of the
person.