1999/07/13 by Janna Levin, Levin, Janna, Imogen Heard +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc) #astro-ph #gr-qc
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/9907166
3 pages, contribution to the conference proceedings for the ``Cosmological Topology in Paris'' (CTP98) workshop
arxiv created 1999/07/13 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30
We provide an informal discussion of pattern formation in a finite universe. The global size and shape of the universe is revealed in the pattern of hot and cold spots in the cosmic microwave background. Topological pattern formation can be used to reconstruct the geometry of space, just as gravitational lensing is used to reconstruct the geometry of a lens.