Cosmic Inflation
Cosmic inflation is a theory that proposes a rapid expansion of the universe immediately after the Big Bang, occurring around 10^-36 to 10^-32 seconds after the event. This brief but intense growth causes the universe to increase exponentially in size, smoothing out any irregularities and setting the stage for the homogeneous and isotropic cosmos we observe today. In extragalactic astrophysics, inflation helps explain the uniformity of the cosmic microwave background radiation and the large-scale structure of the universe, addressing key questions about its evolution and the distribution of galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Additional Insights
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Cosmic inflation is a theory in cosmology that suggests the universe underwent an enormous expansion in the first moments after the Big Bang, growing exponentially faster than the speed of light. This rapid expansion smoothed out the distribution of matter and energy, resulting in the uniform universe we observe today. It helps explain why distant galaxies are so similar and why the cosmic microwave background radiation is nearly uniform. Inflation addresses some puzzles in the Big Bang theory, such as the flatness and horizon problems, providing a clearer understanding of the universe's early conditions and its large-scale structure.