The leading theory for the development of the early universe asserts that the universe began in a Big Bang in which equal quantities of matter and antimatter were created. However, we know that our observable universe is entirely dominated by matter. How this came to be the case is one of the most persistent problems in cosmology and particle physics. The necessary conditions to create a matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe are well known; these are the Sakharov conditions [1]. The difficulty is in understanding the mechanisms through which these conditions are met. One of the conditions is the existence of particle interactions that violate CP symmetry, which is observed as different physics for matter and antimatter particles. If the Standard Model of particle physics were to conserve CP symmetry and therefore not distinguish between matter and antimatter interactions, then our matter-dominated universe would simply not exist. Consequently, incorporating sufficient CP symmetry violation into the Standard Model would constitute a major step towards understanding the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe.

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Introduction

  • Ciaran Mark Hasnip

摘要

The leading theory for the development of the early universe asserts that the universe began in a Big Bang in which equal quantities of matter and antimatter were created. However, we know that our observable universe is entirely dominated by matter. How this came to be the case is one of the most persistent problems in cosmology and particle physics. The necessary conditions to create a matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe are well known; these are the Sakharov conditions [1]. The difficulty is in understanding the mechanisms through which these conditions are met. One of the conditions is the existence of particle interactions that violate CP symmetry, which is observed as different physics for matter and antimatter particles. If the Standard Model of particle physics were to conserve CP symmetry and therefore not distinguish between matter and antimatter interactions, then our matter-dominated universe would simply not exist. Consequently, incorporating sufficient CP symmetry violation into the Standard Model would constitute a major step towards understanding the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe.