This timeline of the Big Bang shows the sequence of events as predicted by the Big Bang theory, from the beginning of time to the end of the Primordial Dark Age (and beginning of Reionization).
It is a logarithmic scale that shows second instead of second. For example, one microsecond is . To convert -30 read on the scale to second calculate second = one millisecond. A step of 10 units on the scale is ten times longer than the previous step.
0: Linear time
Logarithmic time:
10*log second
Reionization
One picosecond
One nanosecond
One microsecond
One millisecond
One second
One hour
One year
One thousand years
One million years
The Primordial Era
Inflationary epoch
Radiation domination
Matter domination
The Primordial Dark Age
Planck time, the smallest theoretical observable unit of time ~and the time before which science is unable to ~describe the universe. At this point, the force of ~gravity separated from the electronuclear force.
Separation of the strong force from the ~electronuclear force.
Reheating after inflation populates universe ~with quarks and anti-quarks.
The weak force separates from the ~electromagnetic force resulting in the four ~separate forces we know today.
Quarks become confined within hadrons.
Neutrinos cease to interact with other particles.
Lepton/anti-lepton pairs annihilate.
Formation of atomic nuclei (hydrogen). ~Nucleosynthesis begins to occur as they collide ~to form heavier elements.
Nucleosynthesis ends after about 3 minutes.
372,000 to 387,000 years - Hydrogen nuclei ~capture electrons to form stable atoms. Photons ~are no longer able to interact strongly with atoms. ~Cosmic microwave background radiation streams ~freely.
