One can obtain a rough upper limit for the maximum number of bits of information the universe could possibly hold as being somewhere around 10^122 to 10^124 depending on which parameters you feed in.
We know the entropy of a black hole is related to its surface area divided by the Planck length. So what we can do is pretend the whole universe is a black hole and use the radius of the known universe to get its surface area. And as entropy is related to information, we can calculate the maximum number of bits. Then depending on the details, you'll get a number between 10^122 and 10^124 bits for the whole universe.
But that's pretending the whole universe is a black hole. Can we now make some reasonable adjustments to lower this upper limit to bring it down to closer to what it should be?
A thought experiment: a star emits two photons that travel into infinity. What values can the angle between the beams assume?
Any real value? Then the digits of the real number can be used to store an infinite amount of information.
Or the limited information content of the universe might disallow certain angles.
Regards,
Joachim
Sir why you have taken the number bits of information is around 10^122 to 10^124. Isnt it should be base 2 since bit can have only two values 0 and 1. And if we taking about qbit then it should be depend upon the number particle in the universe.
Derek,
I'm puzzled by your use of the words 'reasonable' in the last paragraph, and 'what it should be'.
What do you see as being unreasonable about the estimate of 10^124 (ish) bits? And in what way is the present estimate different from what you think it should be?
Explanations for your expectation are welcome.
Cheers;
Dear Abbott,
The entropy counts information about a given system. For a black hole the entropy is about 10^121 *k_B. The number of microscopic states contain in the black hole area can be calculated to be e^121. A Planck area can hold a single bit of information.
Derek
When did we start putting numerical limits on infinity?
If we have 10^122 'bits of information' (and I am not clear on the definition of a bit of information but assume it has a physical reference rather than logical/ mathematical) then each bit has at least one relationship with all other bits in that universe, possibly more if we count EM, gravity etc as seperate relationships and the number becomes a factorial - (10^122)!
Or does my simple engineering logic fall short somewhere?
A thought experiment: a star emits two photons that travel into infinity. What values can the angle between the beams assume?
Any real value? Then the digits of the real number can be used to store an infinite amount of information.
Or the limited information content of the universe might disallow certain angles.
Regards,
Joachim
The question is partially meaningless because:
- the notion of universe can be embedded in the notion of 'local universe'
- the complexity of all available 'local universes' cannot be determined from a single intelligent being
Read more here:
Article A new cosmological paradigm: universal locality
PS We have not observed unambiguously neither one 'black hole'...
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