The Traditional Big Bang Theory:
The fundamentals of the original, unmodified Big Bang speculation.
Inflationary Theory:
The revised and improved Big Bang model.
Energy Density and the Expansion of the Universe:
The density of matter, the cosmological constant, and their effects on the ultimate destiny of the cosmos.
Please Note: If you are not familiar with quantum mechanics or string theory, you may wish to see Theoretical Cosmology before reading the following pages.
Symmetry Reduction:
Concise description of the reasons behind and effects of symmetry breaking.
Imaginary Time:
A careful elucidation of Stephen Hawking and Jim Hartle's revolutionary idea for solving the problems posed by the Big Bang model.
The Wave-Function of the Universe:
Another of Hawking and Hartle's unusual ideas derived from the unique field of quantum cosmology.
The Big Bang under String Theory:
String theory has revolutionized particle physics, bringing quantum mechanics and general relativity together . . . here its implications on the origin of the universe are explained.
Created by Dan Corbett, Kate Stafford, and Patrick Wright for ThinkQuest.