Cosmic loop theory contemplates: Could the universe's demise stem from another Big Bang?

In the vast expanse of the cosmos, the future of our universe is a subject of much intrigue and speculation. One theory that has captured the imagination of many is the Conformal Cyclic Cosmology (CCC), a model proposed by physicist Roger Penrose in 2010.

According to CCC, the universe we know is not a one-time event but rather a part of an infinite series of cycles. Each cycle begins with a Big Bang, expands, and eventually contracts into a singularity, only to be reborn in a new Big Bang. This cyclic structure is reminiscent of the ouroboros myth, found in various cultures around the world, where a serpent swallows its own tail, creating a cycle that maintains the world's balance.

The initial state of the universe, as suggested by CCC, could have been responsible for the creation of all the matter in our universe. This state, according to Penrose, could have been close to nothing, where all matter is converted into photons and disappears. The universe then expanded, motionless, until even the faintest light could not reach it.

As the universe expanded, protons and neutrons, the first long-lived matter particles, emerged about one hundredth of a second after the Big Bang. These particles eventually coalesced to form atoms and molecules, paving the way for the formation of stars, galaxies, and everything we see today.

In the distant future, according to physicist Brian Cox, the death of the last star will initiate an infinite, dark era. However, in the CCC model, this is not the end. The universe will continue to expand, becoming increasingly empty, until it reaches a state similar to the Planck epoch, a period in the history of the universe when space and time were subject to quantum fluctuations.

The CCC model is based on the mathematical self-similarity of the extremely hot, dense, and tiny state of the universe at the Big Bang and its opposite, the extremely cold, empty, and expanded state in the distant future. This self-similarity allows for the transformation of the multi-loop structure into a single-loop structure, where physical reality is a single loop that starts from the Big Bang, becomes increasingly empty in the future, and then creates the same universe again in a new Big Bang.

Penrose and his colleagues believe that they can identify remnants of the previous universe by relating them to the radiation from supermassive black holes. Quantum field theory suggests that even a vacuum is filled with physical activity in the form of energy fluctuations. These fluctuations could potentially provide evidence of the previous universe, bridging the gap between the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next.

The theory of quantum multiverse brings a new perspective to the field of conformal cyclic cosmology. It suggests that the Big Bang could be the rebirth of a single quantum multiverse containing countless universes, all existing simultaneously. This raises the question of where physical reality originated, a question that CCC provides a detailed answer to in terms of the cyclic structure of the universe, but does not answer the deeper philosophical question of where the multiverse itself originated.

In conclusion, the Conformal Cyclic Cosmology offers a fascinating perspective on the nature of the universe and its future. While it does not provide answers to all questions, it offers a compelling model that reconciles the Big Bang with the idea of an infinite, cyclic universe. As research continues, we may uncover more about the nature of our universe and its place in the grand scheme of things.

Cosmic loop theory contemplates: Could the universe's demise stem from another Big Bang?