Open Universe

The term open universe refers to a universe which has no physical or practical barriers to it's continued expansion. If the universe is indeed open, then the universe can continue expanding forever. If the universe cannot expand forever, then some barrier must exist to prevent the expansion.

Normally, conventional theories would declare that the opposite to an open universe would be a closed universe. The closed universe would have a sufficient mass so that the contents of this universe would eventually collapse upon itself after some given period of time.

The C-R theory would propose a third alternative. An exactly balanced critical-mass universe. Such a universe could appear to be on the threshold of expansion forever, but would be closed at some boundary. (An outer Schwarzschild Radius.)

The C-R theory does not allow the universe to be open. Since we observe the red-shift at the outer edges of the universe; can the cause of that red-shift be the gravitational time-slowdown. We should easily be able to explain why there is more curvature at the edges of the universe. Most of the curvature-producing mass in this universe resides further inward from this boundary. If we can allow the universe, by definition, to have exactly enough mass to close off (or curve to the maximum) spacetime1 then this universe is inside a very large Black-Hole. Therefore, the universe is prevented from expanding forever.

See also Closed Universe and Balanced Universe.