Universe: Multiverse

Universe: Multiverse

Published: February 14, 2008, 12:00 am
Updated: April 21, 2009, 8:45 pm
Lead Author: Sten Odenwald
Topics: Cosmology

Introduction

String theory also leads to an important dilemma. This 10-dimensional theory requires that each point in our 4-dimensional spacetime has an additional 6-dimensions of freedom which form a closed 'Calabi-Yau manifold. The geometry of the space formed by these additional dimensions leads to specific predictions for the particles and forces and their interactions in spacetime. Because there is no unique geometry, and no constraints, our "universe" is just one realization of a nearly infinite number of geometry types for these Calabi-Yau spaces.

The totality of these mathematically-possible universes is called the Landscape. At the present time, only by applying the Anthropic Cosmological Principal, can we constrain these possibilities to lead to our particular universe. Initially, this multiplicity of universes was called the Multiverse, and was in some sense considered to be "real."

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External Links

Preview Image

"A section of the quintic Calabi-Yau three-fold (3D projection)." - WikiCommons.

Citation

Odenwald, Sten, Ph.D. (Contributing Author); Bernard Haisch (Topic Editor). 2009. "Universe: Multiverse." In: Encyclopedia of the Cosmos. Eds. Bernard Haisch and Joakim F. Lindblom (Redwood City, CA: Digital Universe Foundation). [First published February 14, 2008].
<http://www.cosmosportal.org/articles/view/138906/>

 

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