What is the universe expanding into ? Eternal inflation

In summary, in the context of eternal inflation, the standard answer of the universe not expanding into anything may need to be revised. Our universe is a bubble within a sea of inflating space, and within this landscape, it is experiencing slower expansion than its surroundings. However, this does not change the fact that points within the eternal universe are comoving and cannot move past one another due to expansion.
  • #1
windy miller
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Normally when one is asked what is the universe expanding into, the answer is its not expanding into anything. Space itself can expand. However In the context of eternal inflation, our universe is a bubble in a sea of inflating space. And hence assuming eternal inflation is right, does the standard answer need revising? Should one say that its expanding into the inflating space?
 
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  • #2
I don't see why it would need changing. Within the landscape of the eternal inflation, our universe is just a patch of space experiencing slower expansion than its surroundings.

The problem with saying something like 'expanding into inflating space' is that it implies that one patch of space somehow encroaches onto another - that a point in non-inflating patch can be carried by the 'regular' expansion into the inflating patch.
Whether points in the whole eternally inflating universe are within or without a non-inflating patch doesn't change them being comoving with whatever expansion is locally occurring. They can not be made to move past one another by expansion.
 
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Related to What is the universe expanding into ? Eternal inflation

1. What is the universe expanding into?

The universe is not expanding into anything. It is simply expanding in all directions.

2. How can the universe expand if there is nothing beyond it?

The universe is not expanding into anything, it is simply stretching and becoming more spread out.

3. Is the universe expanding into a void or empty space?

No, the universe is expanding within itself and there is no empty space beyond it.

4. What is eternal inflation?

Eternal inflation is a theory that suggests the universe is constantly expanding and creating new universes, resulting in an infinite and never-ending process of expansion.

5. How does the concept of eternal inflation explain the expansion of the universe?

Eternal inflation suggests that the universe is constantly creating new universes through a process of inflation, which explains the ongoing expansion of our universe and the existence of other universes beyond our own.

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