A 3D representation of a universe with Euclidian Geometry (flat).
The Deep Freeze. One of 3 proposed theories of how our universe
is expanding and how it will eventually end. The Deep Freeze "ending"
is that which is associated with the "Flat Universe" theory of expansion.
It was postulated that a so-called "flat" universe is one whose expansion
goes on forever, but slows down as it cools to come to a near stop.
A flat universe is unique from open or closed universes in that its
geometry is flat. It has no curvature; whereas open and closed universes
have negative (saddle-like) and positive (spherical) curvatures
respectively. The geometry of a universe has to do with its mass density,
expansion rate and value of its cosmological constant ("a form of counter-
gravitational 'dark energy' thought to fill the universe). As opposed
to open and closed universes, which have higher and lower mass densities
than the critical density respectively, a flat universe has a mass density
roughly equal to that of the critical density. What this means is that
matter in the universe, which is attracted to matter around it by gravity,
is found in sufficient amounts to cause the expansion of the universe
to slow down, but in insufficiently copious amounts to cause the universe
to collapse in on itself in a �Big Crunch�.
The question of what type of universe we live in has been one of
great interest in recent years and there have been a great many studies
done to determine the answer. In 1998, the BOOMERanG and MAXIMA
projects were examples of studies conducted in an attempt to determine
the geometry and the type of expansion of our universe. To do this, the sky
was scanned and tiny variations in the temperature of the cosmic microwave
background radiation (CMB) were measured and mapped.
The experiments dealing with CMB sought to determine the state of
the universe 300000 years after the Big Bang. �From the map of these
temperature fluctuations, the researchers derived a �power spectrum,�
a curve that registers the strength of these fluctuations on different
angular scales, and which contains information on such characteristics
of the universe as its geometry and how much matter and energy it contains.�
After processing the information through supercomputers using the MADCAP
program for instance, �it allows astrophysicists to distinguish between
competing models of the universe�s origin, evolution and present state,�
when the right curve is found. Both BOOMERanG and MAXIMA�s experiments
brought about similar conclusions in that the universe is indeed flat. What
was found interesting, was the fact that when the CMB measurements
were compared with �other wholly independent cosmological observations,
including estimates of the mass of galactic clusters and supernova
studies, indicated that the expansion of the universe is accelerating.�
Indeed with these findings, the search for answers will certainly go on.
