The Theory Experiment Connection: Rn Space and Inflationary Cosmology

Based on a discussion of the theory experiment connection, it is proposed to tighten the connection by replacing the real and complex number basis of physical theories by sets R_{n},C_{n} of length 2n finite binary string numbers. The form of the numbers in R_{n} is based on the infinite hierarchy of 2n figure outputs from measurements of any physical quantity with an infinite range (distance, energy, etc.). A space and time based on these numbers is described. It corresponds to an infinite sequence of spherical scale sections R_{n,e} (e an integer). Each section has the same number of points but the size increases exponentially with increasing e. The sections converge towards an origin which is a space singularity. Iteration of an order preserving transformation, F_{<} or its inverse shows exponential expansion or contraction of the space with the origin as a source or sink of space points. The suitability of R_{n} space as a framework for inflationary cosmology is based on a constant iteration rate for F_{<} and time dependent e and n=n(t). At t=0 all space is restricted to a region of scale sections R_{n_{0},e} with n_{0} (small) and e\leq e_{0} (negative). Inflation, which occurs naturally, is stopped automatically at time t_{I} by increasing n from n_{0} to n_{I}>>n_{0}. Here n_{I} is such that the outermost \Delta scale sections of R_{n_{0}} space, which are moving at velocities >c at time t_{I}, are contained in the scale section R_{n_{I},0} of R_{n_{I}} space. This is needed if R_{n_{I},0} space is to be similar to the usual R space. Hubble expansion and the redshift are accounted for by a continuing slow increase in n. Comparison with experimental data suggests that the rate of increase must be at least one n unit every 30-60 million years.