04 Nov '15 20:24>
if there is enough energy, matter can exist "out of nothing"
Originally posted by robbebopThat's not ex nihilo, and in that process all quantum numbers must be conserved. A simple example is beta decay in a nucleus. Two new particles are produced, but overall the charge, spin, baryon and fermion numbers are all conserved.
if there is enough energy, matter can exist "out of nothing"
Originally posted by DeepThoughtBut can particels exist out of purely energy? Beta-decay is not out of energy, is it?
That's not ex nihilo, and in that process all quantum numbers must be conserved. A simple example is beta decay in a nucleus. Two new particles are produced, but overall the charge, spin, baryon and fermion numbers are all conserved.
Originally posted by robbebopWhat do you mean by "purely energy". In physics we often treat energy as a real thing that actually exists, but really it's a theoretical construct. It's usefulness in our theories is due to the way it is a conserved quantity. However there is no direct way of measuring it. One measures things like position, speed and mass and puts them into a theoretical formula to calculate an energy.
But can particels exist out of purely energy? Beta-decay is not out of energy, is it?
Originally posted by DeepThoughtYes I was talking about those (but I didn't know the correct term in English 😳 ) , but now I see I am wrong. Thank you for your explanations.
You might also be talking about vacuum fluctuations. These do not produce lasting particles, and there is no initial energy required to make it happen or final energy carried away.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtI think it more correct to say the big bang CONVERTED energy, transformed a previous source of energy rather than generating it directly. That makes it more sane, conservation of mass and energy wise.
That's not ex nihilo, and in that process all quantum numbers must be conserved. A simple example is beta decay in a nucleus. Two new particles are produced, but overall the charge, spin, baryon and fermion numbers are all conserved.
The best guess in theoretical physics I know of at the moment is that an inflationary era generated all the fr ...[text shortened]... sufficient reason arguments for the logical necessity of a creator seems less compelling.