The technological wonder, as I like to call it, the James Webb Space Telescope, is providing valuable data through its infrared observations that might influence the field of fractal cosmology.
But, first, what is fractal cosmology?
In short, fractal cosmology is a minority branch of cosmological theory that proposes the structure of the universe or the distribution of matter within it exhibits a fractal-like pattern across a wide range of scales. Fractal patterns are geometric shapes that are self-similar; parts of the pattern, when magnified, resemble the whole. Fractal cosmology suggests that on a large range of scales (100M LY), the universe might exhibit such self-similarity.
It still remains a bit of a minority view, and whilst it has not been widely adopted by the scientific community, it presents an interesting perspective on the structure of the universe and continues to be an area of theoretical exploration.
Yet, as someone who supports fractal cosmology, I tend to be optimistic and predict that, in the near future, we may hear fractal jargon being used more commonly amongst the general public.
Self similarity more apparent in infrared?
The infrared areas show regions where the interstellar medium within the galaxy is organized into distinct bubbles or voids, with dense, dusty, and gaseous materials surrounding them.
Although not displaying perfect self-similarity, may suggest a fractal-like pattern. In nature, such patterns do not have to be exactly identical at every scale, but they do exhibit a family resemblance—a similar arrangement or structure that recurs.
The pattern of voids in this galaxy shows regions of less density, which may seem to be distributed in a way that echoes across different scales, albeit not with the precision of a mathematical fractal.
Fractal-like category
Nature's fractals tend to exhibit what are known as approximate fractals, also known as fractal-like patterns, where the patterns show self-similarity across different scales but not in a perfect or infinite manner.
These natural fractals display similar, repeating structures at various levels of magnification, though they are often irregular and not exact replicas of themselves.
Examples include the branching of trees, the shape of coastlines, the structure of mountains, and the distribution of galaxies. In these cases, the fractal patterns are complex and intricate, yet they do not achieve the precise, infinite self-similarity seen in mathematical fractals.
And in these recent infrared images, it seems that we are able to see fractal-like characteristics more obviously.
Then Webb may have given us unique research for fractal cosmology.
Scale Invariance / As above so below
Other than self-similarity, scale invariance is another key aspect of fractals. This property means that the structure appears similar at different scales, which can be intuitively summarized by the phrase "as above, so below".
In this galaxy image below of Messier 99, you can clearly see the patterns of voids and filaments maintain their structure whether you look at a small part of the image or the entire galaxy—the structure looks similar regardless of the level of magnification.
Both self-similarity and scale invariance are evident in this image.
Fractal-like patterns does not require that the patterns be closely spaced or that they occur within a continuous scale range. Even if these voids are far apart within the galaxy, they could still contribute to a fractal-like structure when considering the galaxy's broader arrangement.
In fractal-like patterns, we look for a repetition of forms or a type of self-affinity, where similar features can be identified across different areas, even if not at steadily decreasing scales. The fact that these voids are spread across the galaxy and show a certain regularity in their distribution can suggest a fractal-like organization in the galaxy's structure.
In a fractal-like scene, we search for repeated patterns or structures that resonate across a system, entails both the existence and non-existence of matter, like the bright filaments and the dark voids, along with spiral arms.
Also, filaments in a galaxy are typically regions of higher density, often outlining areas of intense star formation and interstellar material. When these filaments surround the less dense voids, they create a contrast that accentuates the pattern.
These voids do not need be adjacent and the filaments may not form a continuous network, their distribution throughout the galaxy can still exhibit a type of self-affinity, where certain structures or forms repeat in a non-uniform but coherent manner. This coherence in the structure, with filaments delineating voids, adds to the fractal-like nature of the galaxy.
Although true fractals are infinitely self-similar, natural fractal-like patterns only need to show similarity across a range of scales and areas.
Closing thoughts
It's clear from Webb's infrared data that we are able to observe fractal-like structures, which is fascinating. This data provides strong evidence for such patterns, but we must proceed with caution and rigor, ensuring these findings are confirmed through further empirical investigation.
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