Time at the Beginning
Abstract
Description
Age consistency for the Universe today has been an important cosmological test. Even more powerful consistency tests at times as early as 10^{-32} sec lie ahead in the precision era of cosmology. I outline tests based upon cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy, big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), particle dark matter, phase transitions, and inflation. The ultimate cosmic timescale -- the fate of the Universe -- will be in doubt until the mystery of the dark energy is unraveled.
11 pages LaTeX. To be published in Astrophysical Ages and Time Scales, ASP Conference Series, eds. T. von Hippel, N. Manset, C. Simpson (Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific)
11 pages LaTeX. To be published in Astrophysical Ages and Time Scales, ASP Conference Series, eds. T. von Hippel, N. Manset, C. Simpson (Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific)