If variations of outcomes from quantum events results in multiple universes, might this be the explanation for the recently discovered accelaration of the expansion of our universe? A related question is whether the same process might explain the nature of dark matter and dark energy (i.e. that these are the accumulating matter and energy of the multiverse)?
might improbability explain dark energy, dark matter, and the accelerating expansion of our universe
Mainstream scientists don’t take the multiverse idea very seriously. It’s about on par with suggesting that we might be in a giant black hole or that our universe is a bubble in another universe - maybe theoretically possible, certainly interesting to think about, but probably not what’s going on.
For what it’s worth, dark energy is the unknown entity causing the accelerating expansion - they’re not two different things. And neither dark energy or dark matter are predictions of multiverse theories that I know of.
It’s not likely that dark energy is the result of stuff happening outside the universe, as all theories regarding other universes describe them as such that they might exist in a theoretical sense but it would be impossible for them to exchange information. So it would be impossible for us to travel there or for something from there to affect something here.
So what’s the point, then? From what I understand, the main point of the multiverse is to explain why our universe has the particular properties that it does. It does so because a bunch of universes are popping into existence with various randomly determined properties, and we happen to be in this one.
If there is causality (i.e a propagation of events through time) then it seems to me that alternate realities must similarly propagate. Would these alternate realities (universes) have mass and energies of their own? Would not that portend a progressive propagation of mass and energy. Is it conceivable that our perceptible universe might be affected by the energy and mass of those accumulating parallel universes?
These are questions asked mostly out of ignorance (of the mathematics), but are derived as logical extrapolations of explanations offered for cosmological theories explained as I have encountered them in layman’s terms.
Since when? While acceptance of the idea is by no means universal (heh), Its been my understanding that quite a few scientists take the idea of a multiverse seriously.
If “taken seriously” is parsed as “this is a useful, falsifiable theory,” the answer is no. The o.p. seems to be conflating two different concepts of external or multiple universes: brane cosmology (a family of M-theories that assumes that our 4-dimensional experiential universe is a limited region (brane) floating through a higher dimensional “bulk” space; and many-worlds or relative states interpretations of quantum mechanics, allowing multiple quantum states to exist simultaneously but not superimposed on one another. Brane theories stem from a desire to explain the origin and strength/range of the gravitational force, whereas many-worlds interpretations dismiss the need for the formality of collapse of a probability wavefunction. The only connection between these two sets of theories is that both are currently do not make unique, verifiable predictions that can be tested by observation and experiment.
Stranger
Note, though, that for the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics to work, it must necessarily be impossible for those other worlds to interact in any way with ours. If they do or can interact, then the many-worlds model would fail to explain quantum mechanics.
On the other hand, there’s no inherent reason why other branes might not interact with ours, presumably gravitationally, and there have been a variety of models proposed that seek to explain some phenomenon or another by interactions of some sort with other branes.
Dark Matter - matter that apparently does not interact with electromagnetic radiation BUT does interact gravitationally. Various candidates exist such as dead stars, small black holes, particles similar to neutrinos but much more massive or funky new quantum particles
Dark Energy - A speculative placeholder used to explain the expansion of the universe. It could be a number of things from a failure of General Relativity, an “energy field” or the nature of space-time itself.
The interesting thing from my view is that we’re now starting to examining the universe through gravity instead of EM. Given how weakly interacting gravity is on its own there are bound to be all sorts of neat things to find.