Abstracts Brochure - CERN

THESPA01
29-Jun-06 15:30 - 16:15 THESPA — Special Invited Presentation
THESPA — Special Invited Presentation
Before the Big Bang: An Outrageous New Perspective, and its Implications for Particle
Physics
The second law of thermodynaics implies
R. Penrose (Mathematical Institute)
that big bang must have been an extraordinarily
precisely organized state. What was
the geometrical nature of this state? How can we resolve, in any scientific way, the mystery of how such precision
came about? In this talk, a novel (and perhaps outrageous) solution is suggested, which involves an examination
of what is to be expected of the very remote future of our universe, with its observed accelerated expansion. Some
possible observational consequences of the proposal will be indicated, together with some apparent implications for
particle physics, some of which are non-standard.
380 Chair: C.R. Prior (CCLRC/RAL/ASTeC, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon)