Quote:
Originally Posted by Nereid
1d) If, as you say, the universe is static and infinite, why is the intensity of the microwave background not infinite?
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I'll answer this generally from static universe point of view, not specifically from point of view of Paul's model. If universe is static (i.e. not expanding), infinitely large, and infinitely old, there is an average energy density of the universe. Only when the average energy density of the universe is infinite, you have a situation where any average point in space will have infinite amount of energy, be it in microwave or any other waveband. It is hard for me to imagine how it would be possible to achieve infinite energy density, but I think it would have to involve places where infinite amount of energy is produced during a finite time period. So, as I don't think places like that exist, my answer to your question is that the energy density of the universe is finite.
If you're thinking this as an application of Olbers' paradox, you have to remember that we don't see infinitely far; in every direction there will eventually be an object that blocks your sight, and also blocks the radiation coming towards us. So, at any case you don't see infinite amount of "radiators", you see only those "radiators" that are within the radius of total blockage (i.e. the distance from us where every direction is blocked). Rest of the "nearby" universe shields us from excess radiation.