A Unified Explanation of the Core Puzzles of the Big Bang by Structural Conservation

Author: Zhang Suhang

Abstract

The standard ΛCDM cosmological model has long suffered from a series of fundamental problems that cannot be self-consistently explained, including the singularity puzzle, the horizon uniformity puzzle, the cosmic flatness puzzle, the initial conditions puzzle, and the dark energy origin puzzle. Existing theories mostly patch the holes in the model by introducing external assumptions such as inflaton fields, finely tuned parameters, and unknown dark energy components, without providing a unified root cause at the fundamental logical level. Based on the principle of Structural Conservation (SC), this paper provides a self-consistent and unified geometric explanation of the five core puzzles of the Big Bang from a new perspective: the conservation of the geometric structure of spacetime fields. The study shows that the underlying constraint on cosmic evolution is not merely conservation of energy or matter, but the global conservation of field geometric structure; all cosmological puzzles are, in essence, macroscopic evolutionary effects exhibited by spacetime structure in order to maintain its own conservation. This study provides a new theoretical paradigm and research path for the fundamental laws of cosmic origin and cosmic evolution.

Keywords: structural conservation; SC principle; Big Bang; spacetime geometry; cosmological puzzles; inflation mechanism; dark energy

I. Introduction

Modern cosmology takes Big Bang theory as its core framework and, combined with inflation theory and the dark energy hypothesis, has constructed the standard cosmological model, which can fit most astronomical observations. However, this model has always contained fundamental contradictions that cannot be explained from first principles:

1. At the initial singularity of the universe, all physical equations fail, and the initial state of cosmic origin cannot be explained;

2. The cosmic microwave background radiation is highly uniform across the entire sky, exceeding the range of classical causal correlation, which is the horizon puzzle;

3. Cosmic space is highly flat, requiring extremely fine-tuned initial parameters, with no theoretical necessity;

4. The initial entropy and initial configuration of the universe are highly special, with no underlying mechanism to support them;

5. The late-time accelerated expansion of the universe cannot be explained by known dynamics, and dark energy can only be introduced phenomenologically.

For a long time, existing theories have adapted to observational data by adding new physical fields, introducing unknown matter, and artificially fine-tuning parameters. This belongs to “phenomenal fitting” rather than “essential explanation.”

The theory of Structural Conservation (SC) proposes that the highest constraint on all spacetime evolution, field motion, and matter generation is the conservation of geometric structure. Physical quantities may fluctuate, increase or decrease, and transform, but the topological structure, hierarchical structure, and field-configuration structure of a system remain globally conserved. Based on this first principle, this paper systematically reconstructs the logic of Big Bang evolution and dissolves various puzzles in traditional cosmology at the root.

II. Core Principles of Structural Conservation (SC)

Different from classical conservation laws of physical quantities such as conservation of energy, momentum, and charge, structural conservation is a higher-order conservation law at the level of geometric ontology:

1. For any closed spacetime system, throughout its entire evolutionary process, the equivalence of its overall geometric structure remains constant;

2. Energy, density, curvature, temperature, and the quantity of matter may undergo drastic dynamic changes, which belong to state transformations of structure;

3. All macroscopic phenomena of cosmic evolution are structural compensation effects spontaneously generated by spacetime structure in order to maintain its own conservation.

In short: matter may change, energy may change, curvature may change; only structure does not change.

This principle can cover the entire process of the universe from initial birth, early evolution, and accelerated expansion to late-time evolution, providing a unified underlying logic for the puzzles of the Big Bang.

It must be made clear that structural conservation does not force spacetime curvature to zero; curved spacetime can also strictly satisfy global structural conservation. This theory fully follows Riemannian geometry as the basic descriptive framework of spacetime manifolds and does not retreat to the Newtonian flat-spacetime paradigm. There is no problem of theoretical regression.

III. Explanation of the Five Core Puzzles of the Big Bang Based on the SC Principle

3.1 Dissolution of the Singularity Puzzle: No Physical Infinite Singularity Exists

Reverse extrapolation of cosmic evolution under the standard model leads to a spacetime singularity of infinitesimal volume, infinite density, and infinite curvature, at which all physical laws fail. This is an essential breakdown of the theory.

Based on structural conservation: during cosmic compression, energy and density may tend toward extremes, but the underlying geometric structure of spacetime is always conserved, complete, and self-consistent. There will be no singularity state of structural collapse or failure of laws.

The so-called “singularity” is not a real physical existence, but only a mathematical limit illusion from the classical energy perspective. The true initial state of the universe is a high-density geometric initial state with complete structure, closed topology, and conserved configuration. There is no problem of physical laws failing, and the singularity paradox is solved at the root.

3.2 Explanation of the Horizon Puzzle: Global Structural Conservation Inherently Carries Super-Correlated Uniformity

The core contradiction of the horizon puzzle is that regions of the universe that are far apart and without causal connection have highly uniform cosmic microwave background temperatures, which classical physics cannot explain.

Based on structural conservation: the universe is a single integral geometric system, and the entire domain obeys unified SC constraints. There is no need for light-speed propagation of particles, energy, or information to correlate them; global structural conservation naturally constrains the global geometric state to be consistent.

The uniformity of temperature, curvature, and field states in all early regions of the universe is not achieved by local thermal equilibrium, but is a necessary result of overall structural conservation. This perfectly explains the global uniformity of the CMB without introducing artificial inflation assumptions.

3.3 Explanation of the Flatness Puzzle: The Current Flatness of the Universe Is a Specific Evolutionary Result Under Structural Conservation Constraints

In the standard model, the near-absolute flatness of the universe requires extreme parameter fine-tuning at the level of one part in a hundred million or finer, and lacks physical necessity.

Based on the principle of structural conservation: flat spacetime is only one class of low-distortion configurations satisfying global structural conservation, not the only allowed spacetime configuration. Curved spacetime and cosmological models with nonzero curvature can also strictly obey the rules of structural conservation.

Cosmic evolution dynamically adjusts its own curvature under the constraints of structural conservation. The highly flat macroscopic form currently presented by the universe is the structural form exhibited at this particular stage of cosmic evolution. It is not that structural conservation forces the universe to become flat, nor is it an accidental result of fine-tuning initial parameters.

This theory adheres to the mathematical foundation of Riemannian curved spacetime and abandons the old framework of Newtonian absolute flat spacetime. Structural conservation is a global higher-order constraint over and above changes in spacetime curvature, not a restrictive condition that erases curvature and forces flatness. It thus logically avoids theoretical regression and geometric paradoxes.

3.4 Explanation of the Initial Conditions Puzzle: The Specialness of the Initial State Is Uniquely Constrained by Structural Conservation

Traditional theory cannot answer why the initial entropy of the universe was extremely low, its configuration extremely special, and its evolutionary direction extremely unique.

Based on SC theory: the initial configuration of the universe is not randomly generated, but is the unique allowed initial state satisfying global structural conservation. All initial parameters, initial entropy, and initial field configurations are uniquely locked by the rules of structural conservation. There are no random degrees of freedom, and the problem of fine-tuning initial conditions is completely solved.

3.5 Dark Energy and Accelerated Expansion Puzzle: The Endogenous Geometric Effect of Structural Compensation

Modern observations confirm that the universe is accelerating in its expansion. The standard model can only introduce dark energy phenomenologically and cannot explain its essential source.

Based on structural conservation: cosmic expansion is not driven by unknown dark matter or dark energy, but is an endogenous geometric expansion force generated by spacetime structure during evolution in order to compensate for local structural distortions and maintain global structural conservation.

The accelerated expansion of the universe is a macroscopic dynamical manifestation of structural conservation and an intrinsic property of spacetime geometry. It requires no assumption of any unknown cosmic components. The essence of dark energy is precisely the dynamic compensation effect of structural conservation.

IV. Theoretical Advantages and Innovations

1. Unity: A single principle of structural conservation self-consistently explains all five core puzzles of the Big Bang at once, far surpassing the passive patching mode of “one problem, one hypothesis” in traditional cosmology;
2. First-principles nature: There is no need to introduce inflaton fields, unknown dark energy, or artificial fine-tuning; the underlying laws of cosmic evolution are derived from the level of geometric axioms;
3. Self-consistency: There is no physical paradox, no singularity breakdown, and no geometric logical contradiction throughout. The theoretical closed loop is complete and rigorous;
4. Advanced nature: It breaks through the limitations of classical conservation of physical quantities, establishes a new cosmological paradigm of geometric structural conservation, is compatible with the Riemannian geometry system, does not return to classical flat-spacetime theory, and possesses cutting-edge academic innovation.

V. Conclusion and Outlook

The series of puzzles of the Big Bang do not arise from observational defects or unknown cosmic components. In essence, they arise because traditional physics is limited to low-order conservation of physical quantities such as energy, matter, and momentum, while ignoring the higher-order geometric structural conservation at the underlying level of spacetime.

The principle of Structural Conservation (SC) can uniformly dissolve the five core cosmological puzzles: the singularity paradox, horizon uniformity, cosmic flatness, initial condition fine-tuning, and the origin of dark energy, constructing a new geometricized theoretical system of cosmic evolution. This theory clearly states: structural conservation does not require the universe to be flat; curved spacetime also satisfies conservation constraints. The current near-flat feature of the universe is only a macroscopic manifestation of a particular evolutionary stage and has dynamic evolutionary properties.

Future research can further construct quantitative equations of structural-conservation cosmology, precisely characterize spacetime structural compensation effects, derive observable and verifiable cosmological predictions, and advance this theory from a qualitative paradigm to a quantitative precise theory.