2001/01/10 by D. Puy, M. Signore · 12 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Age of the universe #Arrow of time #Astronomy #Astrophysics #COSMIC cancer database #Context (archaeology) #Cosmology #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Dark energy #De Sitter universe #Epoch (astronomy) #Galaxy #History #History and Developments in Astronomy #Homogeneous #Metric expansion of space #Particle horizon #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Simplicity #Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life #Statistical physics #Structure formation #Universe #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/s1387-6473(02)00240-3
published in New Astronomy Reviews 46(11), 709-723 (Elsevier BV) · 25 pages, 1 figure, Special Issue dedicated to Pr. Dennis W. Sciama
arxiv created 2001/01/10 · openalex publication_date 2002/10/01 · arxiv updated 2011/01/20 · openalex created_date 2020/11/23 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The "dark age" of the Universe is generally pointed out as the period between the recombination epoch and the horizon of current observations (z=5-6). The arrow of time in the cosmic history describes the progression from simplicity to complexity, because the present Universe is clumpy and complicated unlike the homogeneous early Universe. Thus it is crucial to know the nature of the constituents, in order to understand the conditions of the formation of the first bound objects. In this paper we analyse the chemical history of this "dark age" through the creation of the primordial nuclei to the formation of the first atoms and molecules. Then we will describe the consequences of the molecular formation on the birth of the proto-objects. In this context we will mention the important works of Dennis W. Sciama who influenced a large number of theorists -cosmologists and astronomers- on this new field of research dedicated to primordial molecules.