Why can’t you see at the start of the Big Bang?What did recombination look like?Why was the universe in an extraordinarily low-entropy state right after the big bang?How precisely can we date the recombination?How could mass exist before Big Bang?If temperature is dependent on mass, how did the early universe have a temperature?Qualitative picture or reference for a Lemaître's Cold Big Bang theoryWhy is it said that photon-wavelengths have increased by a factor of 1000 since our universe became transparent to light?Why is CMB not considered as the edge of the universe?How is the CMB used to determine the age of the universe?What if humans doubled size… and everything else… could we notice?Why did recombination make the universe transparent?
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Why can’t you see at the start of the Big Bang?
What did recombination look like?Why was the universe in an extraordinarily low-entropy state right after the big bang?How precisely can we date the recombination?How could mass exist before Big Bang?If temperature is dependent on mass, how did the early universe have a temperature?Qualitative picture or reference for a Lemaître's Cold Big Bang theoryWhy is it said that photon-wavelengths have increased by a factor of 1000 since our universe became transparent to light?Why is CMB not considered as the edge of the universe?How is the CMB used to determine the age of the universe?What if humans doubled size… and everything else… could we notice?Why did recombination make the universe transparent?
$begingroup$
I’m quite confused with regards to photon emission throughout the creation of the universe.
From what I’ve heard, there was no light (of any frequency) in the universe until 300,000 years after the Big Bang. This because then the universe cooled down enough to allow for atoms. However, it seems that electrons were created at ~3 minutes after the Big Bang. In this big electron soup, where they are constantly being thrusted around, aren’t they being accelerated and hence would release radiation? Then there should be light due to the accelerated electrons (just like how accelerated electrons produce radio waves right?)
cosmology electromagnetic-radiation big-bang plasma-physics cosmic-microwave-background
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I’m quite confused with regards to photon emission throughout the creation of the universe.
From what I’ve heard, there was no light (of any frequency) in the universe until 300,000 years after the Big Bang. This because then the universe cooled down enough to allow for atoms. However, it seems that electrons were created at ~3 minutes after the Big Bang. In this big electron soup, where they are constantly being thrusted around, aren’t they being accelerated and hence would release radiation? Then there should be light due to the accelerated electrons (just like how accelerated electrons produce radio waves right?)
cosmology electromagnetic-radiation big-bang plasma-physics cosmic-microwave-background
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Electrons were not created 3 minutes after the big bang. You can't see photons from times earlier than about 300,000 years after the big bang simply because the universe was not transparent back then.
$endgroup$
– marmot
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I’m quite confused with regards to photon emission throughout the creation of the universe.
From what I’ve heard, there was no light (of any frequency) in the universe until 300,000 years after the Big Bang. This because then the universe cooled down enough to allow for atoms. However, it seems that electrons were created at ~3 minutes after the Big Bang. In this big electron soup, where they are constantly being thrusted around, aren’t they being accelerated and hence would release radiation? Then there should be light due to the accelerated electrons (just like how accelerated electrons produce radio waves right?)
cosmology electromagnetic-radiation big-bang plasma-physics cosmic-microwave-background
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
$endgroup$
I’m quite confused with regards to photon emission throughout the creation of the universe.
From what I’ve heard, there was no light (of any frequency) in the universe until 300,000 years after the Big Bang. This because then the universe cooled down enough to allow for atoms. However, it seems that electrons were created at ~3 minutes after the Big Bang. In this big electron soup, where they are constantly being thrusted around, aren’t they being accelerated and hence would release radiation? Then there should be light due to the accelerated electrons (just like how accelerated electrons produce radio waves right?)
cosmology electromagnetic-radiation big-bang plasma-physics cosmic-microwave-background
cosmology electromagnetic-radiation big-bang plasma-physics cosmic-microwave-background
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
edited 44 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
108k122041256
108k122041256
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
asked 4 hours ago
John HonJohn Hon
528412
528412
$begingroup$
Electrons were not created 3 minutes after the big bang. You can't see photons from times earlier than about 300,000 years after the big bang simply because the universe was not transparent back then.
$endgroup$
– marmot
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Electrons were not created 3 minutes after the big bang. You can't see photons from times earlier than about 300,000 years after the big bang simply because the universe was not transparent back then.
$endgroup$
– marmot
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Electrons were not created 3 minutes after the big bang. You can't see photons from times earlier than about 300,000 years after the big bang simply because the universe was not transparent back then.
$endgroup$
– marmot
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Electrons were not created 3 minutes after the big bang. You can't see photons from times earlier than about 300,000 years after the big bang simply because the universe was not transparent back then.
$endgroup$
– marmot
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
You heard wrong. There were photons, electrons, protons, and neutrons before 300,000 years. And before 3 minutes! (And before there were protons and neutrons, there were quarks.)
Before 300,000 years, the photons could not propagate freely; they were being constantly scattered by the charged plasma of protons and electrons. The universe was effectively opaque.
Around 300,000 years, the universe had cooled enough that protons and electrons could form hydrogen atoms. A few other light elements also formed, because protons and neutrons had earlier formed helium nuclei, etc.
Atoms are overall electrically neutral and do not scatter photons nearly as much as a charged plasma does. So, after 300,000 years, the photons could move right through the neutral hydrogen gas. The universe became transparent. Cosmic photons created in the Big Bang have been moving without scattering for billions of years since “recombination”, the formation of neutral atoms.
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I understand that if photons are being scattered, you could not see what’s infront of you, however, if photons did exist, your “eyes” would get stimulated right (if they didn’t melt)
$endgroup$
– John Hon
58 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
@John It'd be like being inside a giant neon sign. You can't see very far in a universe of bright orange fog. But that's ok, since there's virtually no structure to see anyway, just minute deviations in the fog density. You can see an approximation of the colour of the universe when it was starting to become transparent at the end of this answer: physics.stackexchange.com/a/133943/123208
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
51 mins ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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oldest
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
You heard wrong. There were photons, electrons, protons, and neutrons before 300,000 years. And before 3 minutes! (And before there were protons and neutrons, there were quarks.)
Before 300,000 years, the photons could not propagate freely; they were being constantly scattered by the charged plasma of protons and electrons. The universe was effectively opaque.
Around 300,000 years, the universe had cooled enough that protons and electrons could form hydrogen atoms. A few other light elements also formed, because protons and neutrons had earlier formed helium nuclei, etc.
Atoms are overall electrically neutral and do not scatter photons nearly as much as a charged plasma does. So, after 300,000 years, the photons could move right through the neutral hydrogen gas. The universe became transparent. Cosmic photons created in the Big Bang have been moving without scattering for billions of years since “recombination”, the formation of neutral atoms.
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I understand that if photons are being scattered, you could not see what’s infront of you, however, if photons did exist, your “eyes” would get stimulated right (if they didn’t melt)
$endgroup$
– John Hon
58 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
@John It'd be like being inside a giant neon sign. You can't see very far in a universe of bright orange fog. But that's ok, since there's virtually no structure to see anyway, just minute deviations in the fog density. You can see an approximation of the colour of the universe when it was starting to become transparent at the end of this answer: physics.stackexchange.com/a/133943/123208
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
51 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You heard wrong. There were photons, electrons, protons, and neutrons before 300,000 years. And before 3 minutes! (And before there were protons and neutrons, there were quarks.)
Before 300,000 years, the photons could not propagate freely; they were being constantly scattered by the charged plasma of protons and electrons. The universe was effectively opaque.
Around 300,000 years, the universe had cooled enough that protons and electrons could form hydrogen atoms. A few other light elements also formed, because protons and neutrons had earlier formed helium nuclei, etc.
Atoms are overall electrically neutral and do not scatter photons nearly as much as a charged plasma does. So, after 300,000 years, the photons could move right through the neutral hydrogen gas. The universe became transparent. Cosmic photons created in the Big Bang have been moving without scattering for billions of years since “recombination”, the formation of neutral atoms.
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I understand that if photons are being scattered, you could not see what’s infront of you, however, if photons did exist, your “eyes” would get stimulated right (if they didn’t melt)
$endgroup$
– John Hon
58 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
@John It'd be like being inside a giant neon sign. You can't see very far in a universe of bright orange fog. But that's ok, since there's virtually no structure to see anyway, just minute deviations in the fog density. You can see an approximation of the colour of the universe when it was starting to become transparent at the end of this answer: physics.stackexchange.com/a/133943/123208
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
51 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You heard wrong. There were photons, electrons, protons, and neutrons before 300,000 years. And before 3 minutes! (And before there were protons and neutrons, there were quarks.)
Before 300,000 years, the photons could not propagate freely; they were being constantly scattered by the charged plasma of protons and electrons. The universe was effectively opaque.
Around 300,000 years, the universe had cooled enough that protons and electrons could form hydrogen atoms. A few other light elements also formed, because protons and neutrons had earlier formed helium nuclei, etc.
Atoms are overall electrically neutral and do not scatter photons nearly as much as a charged plasma does. So, after 300,000 years, the photons could move right through the neutral hydrogen gas. The universe became transparent. Cosmic photons created in the Big Bang have been moving without scattering for billions of years since “recombination”, the formation of neutral atoms.
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
$endgroup$
You heard wrong. There were photons, electrons, protons, and neutrons before 300,000 years. And before 3 minutes! (And before there were protons and neutrons, there were quarks.)
Before 300,000 years, the photons could not propagate freely; they were being constantly scattered by the charged plasma of protons and electrons. The universe was effectively opaque.
Around 300,000 years, the universe had cooled enough that protons and electrons could form hydrogen atoms. A few other light elements also formed, because protons and neutrons had earlier formed helium nuclei, etc.
Atoms are overall electrically neutral and do not scatter photons nearly as much as a charged plasma does. So, after 300,000 years, the photons could move right through the neutral hydrogen gas. The universe became transparent. Cosmic photons created in the Big Bang have been moving without scattering for billions of years since “recombination”, the formation of neutral atoms.
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
edited 3 mins ago
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
answered 3 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
11.9k11838
11.9k11838
$begingroup$
I understand that if photons are being scattered, you could not see what’s infront of you, however, if photons did exist, your “eyes” would get stimulated right (if they didn’t melt)
$endgroup$
– John Hon
58 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
@John It'd be like being inside a giant neon sign. You can't see very far in a universe of bright orange fog. But that's ok, since there's virtually no structure to see anyway, just minute deviations in the fog density. You can see an approximation of the colour of the universe when it was starting to become transparent at the end of this answer: physics.stackexchange.com/a/133943/123208
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
51 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I understand that if photons are being scattered, you could not see what’s infront of you, however, if photons did exist, your “eyes” would get stimulated right (if they didn’t melt)
$endgroup$
– John Hon
58 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
@John It'd be like being inside a giant neon sign. You can't see very far in a universe of bright orange fog. But that's ok, since there's virtually no structure to see anyway, just minute deviations in the fog density. You can see an approximation of the colour of the universe when it was starting to become transparent at the end of this answer: physics.stackexchange.com/a/133943/123208
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
51 mins ago
$begingroup$
I understand that if photons are being scattered, you could not see what’s infront of you, however, if photons did exist, your “eyes” would get stimulated right (if they didn’t melt)
$endgroup$
– John Hon
58 mins ago
$begingroup$
I understand that if photons are being scattered, you could not see what’s infront of you, however, if photons did exist, your “eyes” would get stimulated right (if they didn’t melt)
$endgroup$
– John Hon
58 mins ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@John It'd be like being inside a giant neon sign. You can't see very far in a universe of bright orange fog. But that's ok, since there's virtually no structure to see anyway, just minute deviations in the fog density. You can see an approximation of the colour of the universe when it was starting to become transparent at the end of this answer: physics.stackexchange.com/a/133943/123208
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
51 mins ago
$begingroup$
@John It'd be like being inside a giant neon sign. You can't see very far in a universe of bright orange fog. But that's ok, since there's virtually no structure to see anyway, just minute deviations in the fog density. You can see an approximation of the colour of the universe when it was starting to become transparent at the end of this answer: physics.stackexchange.com/a/133943/123208
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
51 mins ago
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Electrons were not created 3 minutes after the big bang. You can't see photons from times earlier than about 300,000 years after the big bang simply because the universe was not transparent back then.
$endgroup$
– marmot
3 hours ago