Dark Energy & Particle Interactions
How cosmic expansion affects connectivity in the universe
Within Bound Structures
Particles REMAIN Connected & Interacting
Stronger forces dominate locally: Gravity (holding galaxies and clusters together), electromagnetism, and strong nuclear forces overpower dark energy within these structures.
Space doesn't expand inside bound systems: Metric expansion doesn't meaningfully occur within gravitationally bound systems like galaxies or solar systems.
Between Unbound Structures
Particles BECOME Disconnected & Non-Interacting
Accelerated expansion wins: On cosmological scales between unbound structures, dark energy dominates.
Increasing distances: Space stretches at accelerating rates between distant galaxy clusters.
Exceeding light speed & crossing horizons: Distant objects eventually recede faster than light (due to space expansion, not motion). This causes:
- No light can reach us beyond this horizon
- No signals or information can be exchanged
Island universes: Our local galaxy group will become an isolated "island universe" with all other clusters vanishing beyond our observational horizon.
Interaction Diagram
Bound Systems
Galaxies
Solar Systems
Planets
✅ Particles INTERACT
Unbound Systems
Distant Galaxy Clusters
Superclusters
❌ Particles DISCONNECTED
Key Concepts
Metric Expansion of Space
Stretching of space itself, not objects moving through space
Hubble Horizon
Boundary where recession velocity exceeds light speed, causing permanent disconnection
Binding Forces vs. Dark Energy
Local forces dominate within systems • Dark energy dominates between systems
Summary
Locally (within galaxies/clusters):
Particles REMAIN CONNECTED - interactions continue indefinitely
Globally (between unbound clusters):
Particles in distant structures BECOME PERMANENTLY DISCONNECTED - no interaction of any kind possible
Dark energy isolates groups of galaxies into cosmic islands where internal particles interact, but particles between islands are forever disconnected.
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