A THEORY OF SPACE AND THE DARK UNIVERSE

Space can be regarded as an entity or viewed as a 3-dimensional framework in which events in nature unfold. The nature of space is largely unknown. We have developed a physical model of space based on a theory that it is a dynamical entity which is quantized in units of λ_sgiven by the Planck equation, E=hc/λ. We call these quanta of space waves “spacinos”. From wave-particle duality, they can also be considered as a gas which obey the equation of state, PV=nRT. Using a thermodynamic approach, we have constructed a model of the universe in which space participates actively in its evolution . The model differs from that of the Big Bang model and is much simpler. The creation of matter occurs naturally via phase transition of the spacinos. With data on the composition of the universe during cooling, at various cosmic epochs, we have constructed a phase diagram of the model universe which gave an insight on the nature of dark energy and dark matter. Dark Energy is the energy of space. Dark Matter is most likely a plasma state, which was the state of the universe during the photon epoch,before recombination. Both are invisible making them difficult to study; one is transparent to radiation while the other is opaque. The proposed theory modifies present concepts of vacuum energy and the Cosmological Constant. The acceleration in the expansion of the universe is better attributed to space as a third medium of the universe in place of vacuum. It has an antigravity property, and contributes to the total energy density as a scalar field associated with space quanta.