- #1
rede96
- 663
- 16
Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me understand the concept of dark energy better.
I understand the very basic concept that the universe is expanding and that the rate of expansion may be speeding up (I've read somewhere that some don't think the rate is actually increasing) but how does that lead to there being some sort of dark energy?
From my very elementary understanding of this, I imagined that dark energy was actually part of space, where as dark matter and visible matter are things that exist in space. Is that correct?
Also, as the universe is expanding, then does this mean the amount of dark energy per cubic meter of space becomes more dilute or is the rate of dark energy per cubic meter of space a constant? (Or increasing?) If so how is that possible? Doesn't that contradict conservation of energy?
Another thing that confuses me is how are things like the Higgs field effected by the expanding universe? Does the Higgs field expand with the universe, so for any particles effected by the Higgs field, their mass remains constant? If so then how is that possible? Also does dark mater affect the Higgs field?
Or is there any line of thought that says as the universe expands, then the Higgs field becomes more dilute and thus has less of an effect on matter meaning matter doesn't attract as much over larger distances and therefore that could contribute to expansion speeding up?
Sorry for the multiple questions! And please excuse my terminology, I have no background in physics at all it just fascinates me :)
I understand the very basic concept that the universe is expanding and that the rate of expansion may be speeding up (I've read somewhere that some don't think the rate is actually increasing) but how does that lead to there being some sort of dark energy?
From my very elementary understanding of this, I imagined that dark energy was actually part of space, where as dark matter and visible matter are things that exist in space. Is that correct?
Also, as the universe is expanding, then does this mean the amount of dark energy per cubic meter of space becomes more dilute or is the rate of dark energy per cubic meter of space a constant? (Or increasing?) If so how is that possible? Doesn't that contradict conservation of energy?
Another thing that confuses me is how are things like the Higgs field effected by the expanding universe? Does the Higgs field expand with the universe, so for any particles effected by the Higgs field, their mass remains constant? If so then how is that possible? Also does dark mater affect the Higgs field?
Or is there any line of thought that says as the universe expands, then the Higgs field becomes more dilute and thus has less of an effect on matter meaning matter doesn't attract as much over larger distances and therefore that could contribute to expansion speeding up?
Sorry for the multiple questions! And please excuse my terminology, I have no background in physics at all it just fascinates me :)