Quantum Foam May Not Be So Bubbly
TNRTB Archive – Retained for reference information
A team of astronomers has found evidence that supports RTB’s cosmic creation model and provides the first experimental constraint on quantum gravity theories. The two most experimentally verified theories in science are quantum mechanics and general relativity. Most models that attempt to unify these theories to describe the early universe predict that space is not smooth on very small scales, but instead looks like a “quantum foam.” However, a telescope artifact in an image of a distant quasar places constraints on the frothiness of the quantum foam. The existence of an Airy ring (a diffraction pattern named after Sir George Airy) around the quasar rules out randomly varying quantum foams. At the same time, the ring confirms the smoothness of space out to great distances, thus providing further confirmation of the theory of general relativity. Any confirmation of general relativity also provides additional support for RTB’s cosmic creation model.
- Adrian Cho, “Ring Around a Quasar May Deflate Quantum Foam After All,” Science 311 (2006): 594.
- https://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/311/5761/594a
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