Alan Guth
Proposed the theory of cosmic inflation, a modification of the Big Bang theory.
Most quoted
"If you ask where the energy for the Big Bang came from, the answer from inflation is that gravitational energy can be negative, and it can exactly cancel the positive energy of matter."
— from Lecture
"The inflationary universe theory says that the universe began as a tiny speck of false vacuum, which then inflated exponentially to become the enormous universe we see today."
— from Scientific paper/lecture
"The universe is like a giant puzzle, and we're slowly putting the pieces together. But sometimes we find a piece that doesn't fit, and then we have to start all over again."
— from Lecture
All quotes by Alan Guth (423)
The inflationary universe is a theory of the very early universe, in which the universe underwent a period of extremely rapid, exponential expansion.
Inflation provides a natural explanation for the flatness, homogeneity, and isotropy of the universe, as well as for the origin of cosmic structure.
The universe we see today, with its vast structures of galaxies and clusters, all originated from quantum fluctuations during the inflationary epoch.
Inflation is not just a theory; it's a paradigm for understanding the early universe.
The idea of inflation is that the universe started out incredibly small, much smaller than an atom, and then expanded exponentially.
Inflation solves many of the problems of the standard Big Bang model.
The universe could have started from almost nothing, a tiny speck of energy, and then inflated to its current size.
Inflation makes the universe much larger than we can ever hope to observe.
The inflationary paradigm has become the leading candidate for describing the very early universe.
Inflation is a mechanism for turning microscopic quantum fluctuations into macroscopic cosmic structures.
The universe is much larger than the part we can see, and inflation provides a natural explanation for this.
Inflation predicts a universe that is spatially flat, which is consistent with observations.
The inflationary universe is a beautiful and elegant solution to some of the most perplexing problems in cosmology.
Inflation is a period of accelerated expansion, driven by a repulsive gravitational force.
The inflationary model suggests that our universe might be just one of many in a vast multiverse.
The idea of inflation came to me in a flash of insight, a moment of pure inspiration.
The universe is a quantum phenomenon on the largest scales.
Inflation is a powerful idea that has reshaped our understanding of the cosmos.
The universe is a cosmic laboratory, and inflation provides the initial conditions for its experiments.
Inflation is the ultimate free lunch: a universe from nothing.
Contemporaries of Alan Guth
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Alan Guth (1947).