Indefinite Information Processing in Ever-expanding Universes

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in certain open, anisotropic universes without a cosmological constant, civilizations can indefinitely process information by exploiting gravitational energy and temperature gradients caused by gravitational waves.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework showing indefinite information processing in specific cosmological models, expanding understanding of potential long-term civilization sustainability.

Findings

Infinite information processing possible in non-compact, anisotropic universes

Gravitational tidal energy drives temperature gradients used for computation

No need for a cosmological constant or stable gravitational repulsion

Abstract

We show that generic anisotropic universes arbitrarily close to the open Friedmann universe allow information processing to continue into the infinite future if there is no cosmological constant or stable gravitationally repulsive stress, and the spatial topology is non-compact. An infinite amount of information can be processed by ``civilisations'' who harness the temperature gradients created by gravitational tidal energy. These gradients are driven by the gravitational waves that sustain the expansion shear and three-curvature anisotropy.