Has anyone read this new paper on extending the BGV?

In summary, the conversation discusses a new paper by Will Kinney and others which presents a new version of the Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem. This theorem states that any spacetime with net positive expansion must be geodesically incomplete. The paper uses the fluid flow formalism of General Relativity and makes no assumptions about energy conditions. It is applicable to cosmological models using the standard FLRW metric and related expanding metrics but not to other conformal metrics.
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Luis Mijares
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I was wondering if someone could explain this paper to me
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It only talks about net expanding metrics on a locally de Sitter space in a time interval, so while it would apply to cosmological models using the standard FLRW metric and related expanding metrics like the LTB metric, as well as the metrics used in Penrose's Cyclic Cosmology, it wouldn't apply to any cosmological model which doesn't have a net expanding metric on a locally de Sitter space in a time interval. For example, one class of conformal metrics talked about in Lucas Lombriser's recent paper "Cosmology in Minkowski space" occurs in static Minkowski space and thus is not net expanding or in locally de Sitter space, and wouldn't be affected by the result in the paper.
 
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FWIW, BGV is a reference to the Borde-Guth-Vilenkin (BGV) theorem which states that any spacetime with net positive expansion must be geodesically incomplete. The paper and its abstract are as follows:

[Submitted on 20 Jul 2023]

The Borde-Guth-Vilenkin Theorem in extended de Sitter spaces​

William H. Kinney (Univ. at Buffalo, SUNY, USA), Suvashis Maity, L. Sriramkumar (Indian Insitute of Technology, Madras, India)
The Borde-Guth-Vilenkin (BGV) theorem states that any spacetime with net positive expansion must be geodesically incomplete. We derive a new version of the theorem using the fluid flow formalism of General Relativity.

The theorem is purely kinematic, depending on the local expansion properties of geodesics, and makes no assumptions about energy conditions. We discuss the physical interpretation of this result in terms of coordinate patches on de Sitter space, and apply the theorem to Penrose's model of Conformal Cyclic Cosmology. We argue that the Conformal Cyclic extension of an asymptotically de Sitter universe is geodesically incomplete.
 

FAQ: Has anyone read this new paper on extending the BGV?

What is the BGV theorem?

The Borde-Guth-Vilenkin (BGV) theorem is a result in cosmology that states any universe which has been, on average, expanding throughout its history cannot be eternal in the past and must have a past spacetime boundary. It is often cited in discussions about the origins of the universe and the necessity of a beginning.

What does the new paper propose about extending the BGV theorem?

The new paper suggests modifications or extensions to the original BGV theorem to account for more complex scenarios, such as different types of spacetime geometries or quantum gravitational effects. The aim is to see if the conclusions of the BGV theorem hold under these more generalized conditions.

How does this extension impact our understanding of the universe's origins?

If the extension of the BGV theorem holds, it could provide stronger evidence that the universe had a definite beginning, even under more complex physical models. Alternatively, if the extension allows for exceptions, it might indicate possible scenarios where the universe could be past-eternal, challenging the current understanding.

What are the key mathematical or physical changes introduced in this paper?

The paper likely introduces new mathematical frameworks or physical assumptions, such as incorporating quantum effects, alternative metrics, or different types of energy conditions. These changes aim to test the robustness of the BGV theorem's conclusions under broader conditions.

Has the scientific community accepted these new findings?

As with any new scientific proposal, the acceptance of these findings depends on independent verification and peer review. Other researchers will need to scrutinize the paper's methods and conclusions, and further studies may be required to confirm or refute the proposed extensions to the BGV theorem.

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