Emergent Early Universe Cosmology from BFSS Matrix Theory

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how space, time, and cosmological features like perturbations and gravitational waves can emerge dynamically from the BFSS matrix model, offering a non-inflationary explanation for early universe phenomena.

Contribution

It shows that space-time and cosmological perturbations can arise naturally from the BFSS matrix theory without inflation, and resolves the Big Bang singularity.

Findings

Space and time emerge dynamically from the matrix model.

Scale-invariant cosmological perturbations are generated without inflation.

The Big Bang singularity is automatically resolved.

Abstract

The BFSS matrix model is a suggested non-perturbative definition of string theory. Starting from a thermal state of this matrix model, we show how space and time can emerge dynamically. Results from the IKKT matrix model indicate that the $SO(9)$ symmetry of space is spontaneously broken to $SO(3) \times SO(6)$, with the three-dimensional subspace becoming large. Given this initial state for the universe, we show that cosmological perturbations and gravitational waves with scale-invariant spectra are generated, without the need of postulating an early phase of cosmological inflation. The Big Bang singularity is automatically resolved.