TY - JOUR
T1 - Cosmic evolution in a cyclic universe
AU - Steinhardt, Paul J.
AU - Turok, Neil
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Based on concepts drawn from the ekpyrotic scenario and M theory, we elaborate our recent proposal of a cyclic model of the universe. In this model, the universe undergoes an endless sequence of cosmic epochs which begin with the universe expanding from a "big bang" and end with the universe contracting to a "big crunch." Matching from "big crunch" to "big bang" is performed according to the prescription recently proposed with Khoury, Ovrut and Seiberg. The expansion part of the cycle includes a period of radiation and matter domination followed by an extended period of cosmic acceleration at low energies. The cosmic acceleration is crucial in establishing the flat and vacuous initial conditions required for ekpyrosis and for removing the entropy, black holes, and other debris produced in the preceding cycle. By restoring the universe to the same vacuum state before each big crunch, the acceleration ensures that the cycle can repeat and that the cyclic solution is an attractor.
AB - Based on concepts drawn from the ekpyrotic scenario and M theory, we elaborate our recent proposal of a cyclic model of the universe. In this model, the universe undergoes an endless sequence of cosmic epochs which begin with the universe expanding from a "big bang" and end with the universe contracting to a "big crunch." Matching from "big crunch" to "big bang" is performed according to the prescription recently proposed with Khoury, Ovrut and Seiberg. The expansion part of the cycle includes a period of radiation and matter domination followed by an extended period of cosmic acceleration at low energies. The cosmic acceleration is crucial in establishing the flat and vacuous initial conditions required for ekpyrosis and for removing the entropy, black holes, and other debris produced in the preceding cycle. By restoring the universe to the same vacuum state before each big crunch, the acceleration ensures that the cycle can repeat and that the cyclic solution is an attractor.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevD.65.126003
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevD.65.126003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85038337774
VL - 65
JO - Physical review D: Particles and fields
JF - Physical review D: Particles and fields
SN - 1550-7998
IS - 12
M1 - 126003
ER -