Question about quantum fluctuation and the big bang

I was reading an article about various hypotheses related to the creation of
the Universe. All are scientific hypotheses, not invoking the God. One of
the hypothesis was about quantum fluctuation. It said that
the "nothingness" is inherently unstable and virtual particles (together
with their anti-particles) are constantly appearing and disappearing in the
nothingness due to quantum fluctuation. It said that higher the mass of
these particles and longer the duration of their existence, less frequently
they occur. Then the hypothesis postulated that the Universe came into
existence due to one such fluctuation which created a (super-, hyper-,
ultra-) massive particle (together with its anti-particle), which became
the Universe. Because the Universe is a long lived or possibly infinitely
long lived fluctuation, it must be very rare. The author did not say how
frequently (or infrequently) such a fluctuation can happen. Is it a real
possibility in the scientific sense and if so how infrequent such a
fluctuation could be ? In other words how often an Universe like ours can
come into existence due to quantum fluctuation in the "nothingness" ? I
understand that our sense of time may be invalid in this respect as time
came into existence only at the time of the creation of the Universe (big
bang). But is there any way of calculating how frequently an Universe like
ours together with its anti-Universe can come into being from nothingness ?
Is this question so hypothetical that it has no real meaning at all ?

--
gautam

Dear Gautam Majumdar:

"Gautam Majumdar" wrote in message
...
I was reading an article about various hypotheses
related to the creation of the Universe. All are
scientific hypotheses, not invoking the God. One
of the hypothesis was about quantum fluctuation.
It said that the "nothingness" is inherently
unstable and virtual particles (together with their
anti-particles) are constantly appearing and
disappearing in the nothingness due to quantum
fluctuation.

There was no "nothingness" at the instant of the Big Bang,
however. The entire Universe was the size of a grapefruit (by
the standard model), and was filled with pre-matter "stuff".

It said that higher the mass of these particles
and

.... this word should be *or* ...

longer the duration of their existence, less
frequently they occur. Then the hypothesis
postulated that the Universe came into
existence due to one such fluctuation which
created a (super-, hyper-, ultra-) massive particle
(together with its anti-particle), which became
the Universe. Because the Universe is a long
lived or possibly infinitely long lived fluctuation,
it must be very rare. The author did not say how
frequently (or infrequently) such a fluctuation
can happen. Is it a real possibility in the
scientific sense and if so how infrequent such
a fluctuation could be ?

It is possible, not necessarily probable.

In other words how often an Universe like ours
can come into existence due to quantum
fluctuation in the "nothingness" ? I

Only once pre Universe.

understand that our sense of time may be
invalid in this respect as time came into
existence only at the time of the creation of
the Universe (big bang). But is there any way
of calculating how frequently an Universe like
ours together with its anti-Universe

No claim of anti-Universe, and I believe the "quantum
fluctuations" are only responsible for the not-quite-uniform
distribution of what is here, not for the Bang istelf.

can come into being from nothingness ?
Is this question so hypothetical that it has
no real meaning at all ?

Pretty much cosmology (of all flavors) is seeking a toehold in
the wonders that Nature shows us. Unfortunately She is not
showing us the beginning... something about protecting us from
the fires of Creation, or some such.

It is going to be really hard to disprove anything that is
popular today. It will take more patience, more brains, and more
dollars, to see deeper.

David A. Smith