What exactly is the steady-state theory?

The steady-state theory is the theory that states overall that the universe remains uniform, is unchanged and does not evolve over time. It has its basis grounded on a certain cosmological assumption, namely the perfect cosmological principle. This theory does not suggest that the universe is stationary, for it accepts the notion of the expanding universe brought forth by Edwin Hubble. In this theory, the universe can expand without changing because hydrogen atoms suddenly appear and group together, forming new galaxies that fill the gaps formed between galaxies as the expansion of the universe occurs.


Edwin Hubble
He observed using his traditional telescope that the universe was expanding.


Due to the claim of the universe having no beginning and no end, the steady-state theory has earned an alternative title, the ‘Infinite Universe theory’. Maintaining the average density of the steady-state universe and the average distance between galaxies is possible with this creation of matter that goes on continuously. Therefore, there is yet another name to the steady-state theory, which is the ‘continuous creation theory’.

A drawback to the idea of the continuous creation of matter is that the sudden creation of hydrogen atoms in empty space seemingly goes against the principle of conservation of matter, a fundamental law of physics. According to this law, creating or destroying matter is impossible. Regarding this law of conservation of matter, the steady-state theory somehow modifies the law slightly to enable creation to proceed continuously at a rate so slow that the change is unnoticeable. This theory requires the idea of hydrogen emerging from nowhere, one atom every 5 billion years in one metre cubed of space. Hence, according to this theory, only one galaxy forms per year in the entire observable universe, comprising billions of galaxies. To sum it all up, this slow rate of change only needs a slight alteration to the law of conservation of matter.





How did the steady-state theory start?

The grand idea came into being in 1946 when three brilliant scientists, namely Fred Hoyle, Hermann Bondi and Tommy Gold watched a horror movie, Dead of Night. The trio that had met during World War Two from their shared research on radar, had personalities that complemented one another. Hoyle was the one who could adapt well in all circumstances and come up with insights. Bondi, on the other hand, was the orderly mathematician. Gold explored different viewpoints with his well-developed sense of imagination.

Tommy Gold (left), Hermann Bondi (centre) and Fred Hoyle (right), around 1960

Dead of Night was a movie with five parts in it. The movie was actually a ghost story with a circular structure, so the way it ended after the first four parts was extremely alike the way it started. The unique and inspiring properties of this movie led the trio to think that the universe could very much be in a steady state, yet vibrant and expanding. Hoyle declared boldly, "One tends to think of unchanging situations as being necessarily static. What the ghost-story film did sharply for all three of us was to remove this wrong notion. One can have unchanging situations that are dynamic, as for instance a smoothly flowing river." After two years, Hoyle came up with a modification to the famous theory of relativity developed by Einstein. This modification let atoms of hydrogen form at a steady rate out of nothing.


Fred Hoyle, one of the pioneers in the formation of the steady-state theory

From Bondi and Gold came forth the perfect cosmological principle and the steady-state theory. Bondi and Gold were the ones to suggest that the formation of hydrogen atoms happens suddenly to maintain the average density of this universe. We can see their concept of the steady-state universe in the diagram below, with the blue circle representing the entire universe and the white dots representing the galaxies. The pattern in the universe remains undisrupted and orderliness is maintained in the steady-state universe. Unfortunately, this theory cannot explain the existence of quasars and radio galaxies only at large distances and not only in closer galaxies, as this theory puts things in such a way that the universe must look the same always.



Pictorial of the steady state of the universe



An alternative to the big bang?

The steady-state theory was actually a feasible alternative to the big bang in the 1950s and 1960s. What made the steady-state theory so appealing at that time, when compared to the big bang theory, was that using calculations based on the big bang theory, our best estimate of the universe’s age was 2 billion years, even less than the age of the Earth we live in. The solar system can be 5 billion years old, while the stars might be up to 12 billion years old. Hence, this unthinkable situation brought about by the big bang theory gave support to the steady state theory. Current estimates using the latest in technology has increased the figure to nearly 15 billion years, so this has eliminated that particular problem regarding the big bang theory.


C-field
Both Bondi and Gold proposed no mechanism for the creation of matter in the steady-state theory. Hoyle, however, suggested the mechanism of ‘C-field’, where ‘C’ stands for ‘Creation’. He suggested negative pressure in this C-field as the factor enabling the field to drive the cosmos expansion and the creation of matter.
This negative pressure also was said to maintain the overall density of matter.
The ‘C-field’ concept had its credibility, as many of its features actually cropped up later in the theory of cosmic inflation and then in the notion of an accelerating universe.
Quasi-steady State

In 1993, the trio of Geoffrey Burbridge, Fred Hoyle, and Jayant V. Narlikar proposed Quasi-steady state cosmology (QSS). It was a form of rebirth to the steady-state notions, stating and explaining unmentioned details in the original proposal of the steady-state theory. In this theory, small bouts of creation happen every now and then.
These events of creation are also known as minibangs, mini-creation events, or little bangs. Unfortunately for its supporters, mainstream cosmologists have pointed out errors in QSS after having reviewed it. The founders have done modifications to QSS after the ideas concerning an accelerating universe emerged.


Chaotic inflation theory

One can also liken the ideas of a C-field and of a quasi-steady state universe to the chaotic inflation theory or eternal inflation. The chaotic inflation theory involves the concept of an everlasting universe with no beginning or end. This theory also has the universe having unending inflation to create cosmos matter. As you can see, there are marked similarities with the steady-state theory and QSS. Nevertheless, the steady state and quasi-steady state theories insist that the creation of matter like hydrogen atoms is within the observable universe, while inflationary theories do not involve inflation as a process within the observable universe.