In a number of threads we have been talking about universe inflation from a cosmolgy point of view in this I am going to take a different view which is the engineering and computer modelling view.
Why because it sheds some light on some problems and more controversial answers we throw at the cosmology.
The first thing about an inflating universe is it's shape.
We have to assume that inflation would be reasonably uniform because otherwise the mechanism behind it get overly complex. So we are look at processes like pumping up a tire or hydrolics in which the inflation mechanisms are simple.
Any shape that has a hole on the inside like a tyre tube would lead to the problem of the inner walls hitting to form a singularity. That would lead to some rather bizzare effects at the singularity and as we have not seen it we assume there are no holes or voids in space although that is far from proven.
The next question an engineer will throw at you is how do you expand something. The answer for them is easy there are only really 3 ways.
a) You inject pressure at a single or multiple point think pumping a tyre up. You push the boundaries apart physically we usually think mechanically by piezo and crystal etc can do the same thing. Thermal expansion is a classical view of this.
b) You can suck the boundary out by creating negative pressure outside think of your lungs or a vacuum cleaner bag.
c) Some non classical physic way
Okay so now lets look at the options.
a) If this is true it should be relatively easy to find the pressure injection point unless the pressure is injected relatively evenly everywhere. It also has the problem of where do we get pressure from?
The only real candidate for this process is dark matter. You really do struggle to find any other plausable way to make it work.
b) The suction approach is a cosmolgy nightmare because all the production is outside space itself.
Unfortunately for cosmology this is the easiest one for an engineer and modeller to do. Lungs are the way they are because its relatively easy the drive method is far far harder.
When you drop a low viscosity liquid drop to into a bowl of another liquid the osmotic pressure does exactly that.
There is a classic school experiment called egg osmosis(
http://ilovebacteria.com/eggosmosis.htm)
One immiscible liquid injected into another also does an interesting thing. It expands initially and then will experience pinch off to two seperate drops
(
http://www.math.vt.edu/people/renardyy/Research/Publications/35460.pdf) Go to figure 5.3
Even look at normal drop formation from a capillary tube
(
http://www.cfd.com.au/cfd_conf03/papers/118Dav.pdf)
So you can guess the sorts of questions we keep throwing at the cosmologist which are very controversial.
Q. Can our universe get so expanded it pinches off
Q. Is the universe something like two immiscible liquids normal matter versus dark matter.
Q. Are we a drop of matter forming about to break off and drop through whatever is outside ... okay its silly but funny :-)
What we are basically looking at is all natural expansion processes for links with the universe theory.
c) If we can't find the answer above then we end up here some non classical physics way.
For us this as a modeller this is a nightmare but the cosmologist love it because they don't have to answer the tricky questions.
By now you should have enough detail to throw you two cents in.
Any thoughts remember they can be controversial non of this rubbish is prooved or assumed to even remotely be true.
