Cosmic Chronology
From Inflation to Current Oscillations
The evolution of brane tension from the Big Bang to today reveals how the universe tuned itself to its fundamental frequency.
Timeline of Brane Evolution
| Phase | Age | τ (J/m²) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation | 0 → 10⁻³⁴ s | 10⁵⁰ | Quasi-exponential expansion, hyper-tense brane |
| Brane Reheating | 10⁻³⁴ → 10⁻³² s | 10³⁰ | Tension decay via MN-antiMN production in bulk |
| Relaxation | 10⁻³² s → 1 Gyr | 10²⁷ → 7×10¹⁹ | τ ∝ t⁻¹/², fundamental mode enters resonance ≈ 1 Gyr |
| Current Era | 13.8 Gyr | 7×10¹⁹ | Stable oscillation with 2 Gyr period |
Physical Processes
Inflation Phase
The brane begins with near-Planckian tension, driving exponential expansion. The extreme curvature prevents any oscillatory modes.
Brane Reheating
As inflation ends, the brane tension converts to particle production:
- Massive MN-antiMN pairs created in the bulk
- Energy density transfers from geometric to matter sector
- Tension drops by 20 orders of magnitude
Relaxation Era
The brane tension follows a power law decay:
\[\tau(t) = \tau_0 \left(\frac{t_0}{t}\right)^{1/2}\]This natural cooling allows the fundamental mode to enter resonance when the oscillation period matches the age of the universe.
Current Oscillations
Today, the brane has reached its equilibrium configuration:
- Stable tension τ₀ = 7×10¹⁹ J/m²
- Fundamental period T = 2.0 Gyr
- 10% of dark matter participates in oscillations
Connection to Standard Cosmology
Our framework preserves all successful predictions of ΛCDM while adding:
- Natural explanation for dark energy timing
- Mechanism for MOND-like effects at large scales
- Testable oscillations in cosmological observables
The brane paradigm unifies inflation, dark matter, and dark energy into a single geometric framework.
Figure: Evolution of brane tension from inflation to present day