English

The density parameter and the Anthropic Principle

Astrophysics 2009-10-30 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

In the context of open inflation, we calculate the probability distribution for the density parameter Ω\Omega. A large class of two field models of open inflation do not lead to infinite open universes, but to an ensemble of inflating islands of finite size, or ``quasi-open'' universes, where the density parameter takes a range of values. Assuming we are typical observers, the models make definite predictions for the value Ω\Omega we are most likely to observe. When compared with observations, these predictions can be used to constrain the parameters of the models. We also argue that obsevers should not be surprised to find themselves living at the time when curvature is about to dominate.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9803268,
  title  = {The density parameter and the Anthropic Principle},
  author = {Jaume Garriga and Takahiro Tanaka and Alexander Vilenkin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9803268},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

Revised version, to be published in Phys. Rev. D