Why the Big Bang needs VSL theory
See this article by David F. Coppedge The Light-Distance Problem
“Supporters of the Big Bang have no cause for pride, because they have a light-distance problem, too! It is called the horizon problem. And it is serious.”
One solution was offered by secular cosmologist Paul Davies, and that was varialbe speed of light (VSL):
Are the fundamental constants of nature really constant?
“The leftover glow from the Big Bang, known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB), has been observed in great detail. It shows that the entire observable Universe was once at a common temperature. This poses a conundrum because large sections of our observable Universe have never been in causal contact - they have never been able to communicate because light moves too slowly to have crossed the distance between them. If they have never been in contact with each other, how do opposite sides of the observable Universe know what temperature to be? ….But what if there was another solution? What if everything was in causal contact because the speed of light was faster in the past? ”
This possible observed change in the fine structure constant is, first of all, so small that it may well be due to observational or instrumental error. Secondly, you will notice than in the equations you see h, Planck’s constant, coupled with c, the speed of light. Together, as hc, they are invariant. That is because c = 1/h and vice versa. So although there has been a change in the speed of light (and an observed inverse change in h) the possible change in the fine structure constant has nothing to do with any possible change in either c or h.
from Barry: Any proposed changes in the speed of light due to variations in the fine structure constant must be reflected in simultaneous changes in h at the least and possibly other changes in other ‘constants’ as well. One cannot isolate simply c as being responsible for a possible change in alpha.
Comment by Helen Setterfield — June 1, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Here is a comparison contrast of CDK theory and the VSL theories of Davies, Albrecht and Magueijo, and Moffat
VSL theories by other scientists
contrasted with CDK.
Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — June 1, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Please Note:
ATTENTION! YOUNG COSMOS HAS MOVED!
Salvador
Comment by scordova — August 6, 2007 @ 11:30 pm