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An Exact Formula for Cosmic Entropy in Rh=Ct Cosmological Model

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16 September 2025

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17 September 2025

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Abstract
The question of the entropy of the universe is crucial and remains unanswered in cosmology. Assuming a flat universe, we derive, which we then demonstrate, an exact heuristic formula for the entropy of the apparent universe, i.e. at the Hubble radius. This approach forms part of a quantum thermodynamic cosmology framework of the Rh = ct type, which is in the field of classical mechanics, and could help to quantify the Planck era of Big Bang theory. It assumes that the universe would exist before Planck time at Planck temperature. Furthermore, it could shed new light on the standard cosmological model with regard to entropy.
Keywords: 
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1. Introduction

Einstein said about thermodynamics: "A theory is the more impressive the greater the simplicity of its premises is, the more different kinds of things it relates, and the more extended is its area of applicability. Therefore, the deep impression which classical thermodynamics made upon me. It is the only physical theory of universal content concerning which I am convinced that within the framework of the applicability of its basic concepts, it will never be overthrown." [1]
Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness of a system. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy of an isolated system increases over time, or at best remains constant. This law gives time a fundamental direction, often referred to as the 'arrow of time'.
A major challenge in the standard cosmological model is explaining why the universe began its expansion with abnormally low entropy, which then increased dramatically to reach values much higher than those observed at decoupling (approximately 380,000 years after the Big Bang). This 'initial entropy problem' appears to contradict the observed cosmic microwave background (CMB), which indicates that the early universe was close to thermal and chemical equilibrium, a state typically associated with high entropy.
Assuming our universe is an isolated system at the temperature of the CMB and based on recent thermodynamic cosmology research of the Rh = ct type, we propose a formula for the entropy of our universe that is consistent with its energy at the apparent horizon.

2. Background

In 2015, Tatum et al. [2] proposed an equation for the CMB temperature, noted T c m b , that has since been formally derived from the Stefan-Boltzmann law by Haug and Wojnow [3,4].
T c m b = T R h = c k b 4 π R h 2 l P l
Witch can be derived as follows:
T c m b = T R h = k b 4 π t R h   2 t P l
Where ℏ is the reduced Planck constant, c is the speed of light in a vacuum, k b is Boltzmann's constant, the Hubble radius is defined by R h = c H where H is the Hubble parameter, T R h is the temperature of the Hubble sphere, l P l is the Planck length, t R h   is the Hubble time defined by t R h   = 1 H , and t P l is the Planck time.
From Eq.2 we derive directly:
t R h   = 2 T c m b 2 k b 2 16 π 2 2 t P l
These values, together with Planck's energy, E P l = m P l c 2 , where m P l is Planck's mass, are necessary and sufficient to lead us to the formulation of the entropy S R h of the apparent universe, i.e. at the Hubble radius, compatible with the energy contained in the Hubble sphere.
Note: It should be noted that Eq.1 is an adaptation of the Hawking temperature of black holes[2]. This leads to the idea that our universe is the interior of an expanding black hole and that, in thermodynamic cosmology, an isolated system can also be linked to the interior of a black hole. Thus, our universe is a simple part of an infinite flat universe populated by black holes, which themselves contain their own universes.

3. Heuristic Formulation of the Entropy of Our Apparent Universe

First, we are in the field of classical thermodynamic cosmological models, so the energy contained in the Hubble sphere, E R h = c 4 R h 2 G , where G is the gravitational constant, S R h   T R h must be equal to   E R h in our model.
For example, in Haug and Tatum's approach to the entropy of our apparent universe, the energy E R h is correct at Planck temperature, which should be noted, but diverges, by a factor of 10 52 today, in our model when it is applied naively to the temperature of Hubble sphere as follows: S B H   T c m b . This is incorrect because we don't respect the law of conservation of energy which imposes: S R h   T R h =   E R h . We must present our apologies to Haug and Tatum here. Indeed, in previous versions I had not found their version, see [5], how they arrive at the law of the conservation of energy which is correct is equivalent to our (see Annex A). Their formula is as follows, see [8], S B H   T H a w , p = c 4 R h 2   G , with T H a w , p =   c 2 π l p 1 k b , i.e. independent of H , and S B H = k b   π   R h 2   l p 2 .
The entropy S R h proposed by Haug and Tatum [5], although logically incorrect for all R h in classical mechanics when it is applied naively to the temperature of Hubble sphere, has the advantage of being correct at Planck temperature. They assumed in Rh=ct cosmology the Bekenstein-Hawking formula for the entropy of a black hole as follows:
S R h = k b 4 π   R h 2 4 l P l 2  
We have noticed that the geometric means are commonly used in our particular approach to Rh=ct thermodynamic cosmological models [2,6], between unit quantum values and Rh=ct model values.
We therefore replaced l P l 2 with R h 2 l P l 2 = R h l P l to preserve the exact result at Planck temperature, when R h =   c   t P l . Despite this modification, S R h T R h still diverged from E R h = c 4 R h 2 G for more contemporary values of R h . We then applied the principle of the ratio of quantum values to values in the Rh = c t model to count the number of Planck units. For example [7], t R h t P l . When S R h T R h was sufficiently close to E R h , we searched for constants, particularly simple powers of π, to arrive at this formula for the entropy of the apparent universe, which is compatible with its energy at the CMB temperature
S R h = 16   π 2   R h 2 E P l R h   l P l   T P l   T c m b T P l   t R h t P l     J . K 1
With R h = c   t R h ,   l P l = c   t p l and T P l = E P l k B Eq.5, i.e. the formula of cosmic entropy in this Rh = c t model, can simplify as follows:
S R h = 16   π 2 k B T c m b T P l t R h 2 t P l 2     J . K 1
It is important to emphasize and remember that, in this approach,
T c m b = T R h = k b 4 π t R h   2 t P l   K
and
t R h   = 2 T c m b 2 k b 2 16 π 2 2 t P l   s
Then we can verify numerically S R h T c m b = S R h T R h = E R h , i.e. the law of energy conservation:
S R h T R h = 16   π 2   k B   T c m b T P l   t R h 2 t P l 2   T c m b =   E R h = c 4 R h 2 G   J
S R h T R h = 16   π 2   k B   T c m b 2 T P l   t R h 2 t P l 2   = E R h = c 4 R h 2 G   J
As T c m b decreases, the cosmic entropy S R h of the universe increases. The temperature and the entropy of universe are transformed into Hubble volume and Hubble mass (i.e. energy). This is a global state change in the temperature of the universe, which simultaneously affects its volume and mass (i.e. energy).

4. Demonstration of This Formula for Cosmic Entropy in This Model Rh=ct

S R h T R h = 16   π 2   k B   T c m b 2 T P l   t R h 2 t P l 2     J
With T c m b = 4 π k b t R h 2 t P l K , we derive Eq.11 as follows:
S R h T R h =   2 k b   T P l   t R h   2 t P l 3     J
With T P l = c 5 G k B 2 and t P l = G c 5 , we derive Eq.12 as follows:
S R h T R h =   2   c 5 G   t R h   2     G c 5   G c 5   =   c 5 t R h   2   G =   c 4   c t R h   2   G =   c 4   R h 2   G J
Since E R h =   c 4   R h 2   G , we have shown that S R h T R h =   c 4   R h 2   G = E R h to satisfy the law of the conservation of energy in the Rh=ct model thanks to the formulas of T R h and t R h   .

5. Contribution of the Entropy R h = c t to Duration and Energy in the Planck Era

It is widely accepted that the Planck era is characterized by Planck energy and Planck temperature. However, the concept of time in the Planck era is poorly defined. By setting T c m b =   T R h =   T P l , we calculate t R h = t P l 32 π 2 , i.e. a time shorter than the Planck time at Planck era. In an other hand, we also can calculate in this model that for E P l = S R h T R h = S R h T c m b , we need to set T c m b =   T P l 8 π .

6. Conclusion

The contribution of the universe entropy formula Rh=ct to this emerging quantum thermodynamic cosmological model is an important advance. It provides a reliable formula in this field of research, paving the way for new developments and perspectives on the issues faced by the contemporary standard cosmological model. Indeed, there is a potential link between the R h = c t = c H models and the cosmological standard model with the formula of observable radius: R O b s = c H 0 a = 0 a = 1 d a a 2 Ω r a 4 + Ω m a 3 + Ω k a 2 + Ω Λ . This could precision and refine the standard cosmological model.

7. Acknowledgments

The author would like to express his sincere thanks to Eugene Terry Tatum for his review on the first version of this article. He would also like to express his sincere thanks to Espen Haug for having presented to me their complete version of the conservation of energy at the apparent horizon [8] and stimulating exchange of mails.

Annex A: Demonstration of Equivalence of These Two Different Approaches

Haug, Tatum formula for the Hubble sphere is as follows [8]:
S p T H a w , p = k b   π R h l p   c 2 π l p 1 k b   J
Witch can be simplified as follows:
S p T H a w , p =   R h l p   c 2 l p   J
My Eq.12 is:
S R h T R h =   2 k b   T P l   t R h   2 t P l 3     J
Witch can be rearranged as follows:
S R h T R h =   2 2   k b   t P l   T P l   t P l   t R h   t P l     J
With t P l = G c 5 and T P l = c 5 G k B 2   , we derive Eq.A.4 as follows:
S R h T R h = t R h   t P l     2 2   k b     c 5 G   k B 2   G c 5 t P l     J
Witch can be simplified as follows:
S R h T R h =   c   t R h   c   t P l     2   c   k b   k b   2     c   t P l   J
With R h = c   t R h   =   c H and l P l = c   t P l , Eq. A.6 can be simplified as follows:
S R h T R h =   R h l P l     c   2     l P l     J
We have proven that Eq A.2 is equal to Eq A.7 which is derived from Eq.A.3. So that we have the conservation of energy at the apparent horizon in both cases:
S p T H a w , p =   S R h T R h =   c 4   R h 2   G =           c 5   2   G   H   J

Annex B: The Photon Energy Density Parameter

Haug, in his article [8], develops an interesting argument around the photon energy density parameter. The current CMB photon density is about (See PDG [9]):
Ω γ =   ρ γ ρ c r = 2.473   10 5 T R h / 2.7255 4 h 2 5.38   10 5 ± 0   . 3
The parameter h is define as h = H / 100 , where H is expressed in k m / s / M p c . The Megaparsec is:
  1   M p c = 3.085677584   10 22   m  
Now let’s use Eq.8 to, in a first time, calculate t R h based on T R h . For T R h = 2.7255   K we have an exact value for t R h = 4,6127598948   10 17 s which will use from B . 3   to B . 5 . In R h = c t = c H models so t R h = 1 / H , in S.I. units. Then we calculate:
H =   1 / 1000     1 t R h 3.085677584   10 22 = 66,895371558   k m / s / M p c
Which can be simplified as follows:
H = 1 t R h   3.085677584   10 19 = 66,895371558   k m / s / M p c
Since h = H / 100 , we can derive h as follows:
h =   1 t R h     3.085677584   10 17 = 0.6689537
If T R h is set, we calculate t R h with Eq.8 or alternatively if t R h is set, we calculate T R h with Eq.7. Then we can calculate a constant value for Ω γ as follows determinate by Eq.B.1:
Ω γ =   ρ γ ρ c r = 2.473   10 5   T R h / 2.7255 4   h 2 = 5.526268   10 5
Which is close to exact the value Ω γ = 1 5760   π = 5.526213 determinate by Haug [10] [8]. We are limited by the precision of 2.473   10 5 value. So, it seems possible to precise the 2.473   10 5 value, as for example 2,472975333   10 5 , with Ω γ = 1 5760   π = 5.526213302 10 5 .

Annex C: Similarity Between Haug Tatum Entropy and Wojnow Entropy

In annex A, we have already demonstrated that these two entropies are equivalent. Now we examine the S B H k B = 2.29   10 122 value proposed by Haug [8].
For t R h interdepend from T R h = 2.7255 K , we have exactly:
2 π t R h t P l   T p l 2 8 π 2   1 T c m b 2 = 2.29   10 122 = S B H k B =   π t R h 2 t P l 2 = π   R h 2 l P l 2  
Where T P l / 8 π is the value needed to fix E R h = E c r = E P l in our model (see section 5). So, Haug Tatum entropy is clearly linked to T c m b = T R h despite the critics formulated by Haug, see [8]. It’s only another point of view on the same subject.

References

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  3. Espen Gaarder Norwegian University of Life Sciences Haug, Stéphane Wojnow. How to predict the temperature of the CMB directly using the Hubble parameter and the Planck scale using the Stefan-Boltzman law. 2023. ⟨hal-04269991⟩.
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  10. Haug, E. (2025). An Exact CMB Photon Radiation Density of the Universe Derived from Rh = ct Cosmology. Cambridge Open Engage. doi:10.33774/coe-2025-jfg4t-v2.
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