Skip to main content

Questions tagged [cosmology]

The study of the large-scale structure, history, and future of the universe. Cosmology is about asking and answering questions about the "big picture" - the extent, origin, and fate of everything we know.

2 votes
1 answer
281 views

Negative Horizon distance

Consider a flat universe, here, proper distance can be given by R-W Metric: $$d_p (t_0) = c\int_{t_e}^{t_0}\frac{dt}{a(t)},$$ $t_e$ is the time when a photon is emitted from a distant galaxy, $t_0$ is ...
Polaris5744's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
49 views

Dark energy and conservation of energy in General relativity [duplicate]

i know that conservation of energy in general relativity has been discussed multiple times here at PE, a popular explanation on the topic is Sean Carroll's blog "Energy is not conserved" ...
FACald's user avatar
  • 117
1 vote
1 answer
71 views

Age of universe vs Hubble time in Milne universe

Consider an empty universe where energy density $\varepsilon = 0$, thus the Friedmann Equation can be reduced into: $\dot a^2= -\frac{kc^2}{R_O^2}$ $k$ is the curvature of space, $R_0$ is the radius ...
Polaris5744's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
55 views

How to find critical density?

In Cosmology critical density is defined as the minimum density for a flat universe to keep expanding, by Friedmann Equation: ${\left({\frac {\dot {a}}{a}}\right)^{2}={\frac {8\pi G}{3}}\rho -{\frac {...
Polaris5744's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
61 views

How to understand critical density?

In Cosmology, critical density is given by setting $\Lambda = 0$ and $k = 0$, in other words, a universe without dark energy and zero curvature. According to my understanding and Wikipedia, this ...
Polaris5744's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
139 views

Why can photon be treated like gas?

In Cosmology, especially when studying Cosmic Dynamic, sometime we will treat photons as gas to calculate its pressure, but according to my understanding, photon and gas are nothing alike. Why can ...
Polaris5744's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
81 views

Net particle number density for relativistic particles at finite chemical potential (tricky integral)

Question: How does one show that the chemical potential of relativistic fermions is negligible at high energies? In particular, I would like to show that the difference between the particle density $n$...
Henry Deith's user avatar
  • 1,198
1 vote
1 answer
76 views

Why is the First Law of Thermodynamic related to Fluid Equation?

In Cosmology, there is a equation called Fluid Equation: $$\dot{{\varepsilon}}+3\frac{\dot{a}}{a}(\varepsilon+P)=0.$$ It is derived by taking time derivative of the First Law of Thermodynamic: $\dot{E}...
Polaris5744's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
27 views

Detailed derivation of ESCK gravity and Extended Friedmann Equations with Torsion

Do you know a textbook on the Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble theory of Gravitation and its application to derive Extended Friedmann Equations with Torsion, which shows the calculations in detail?
Alexandre Masson Vicente's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
54 views

R-W Metric and null geodesic path of photon

I was reading through Introduction to Cosmology, on Chapter 3, it gives me the R-W Metric: $ds^2 = -c^2dt^2+a(t)^2[dr^2+{S_κ}(r)^2dΩ^2]$ ${S_κ}(r)$ is a function related to the curvature of space, κ ...
Polaris5744's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

Accelerating Expansion of Universe - Why Not Caused by Radiation?

As I understand it, dark matter and dark energy are used as an 'explanation' for how universe expansion is accelerating; because without it gravity would be expected to cause a long term shrinking. ...
Claud's user avatar
  • 181
25 votes
9 answers
6k views

Why are spherical shapes so common in the universe?

I have a simple question. Why are most objects in the observable universe spherical in shape? Why not conical, cubical, cuboidal for instance? I am furnishing a few points to justify this statement: ...
Ishaan's user avatar
  • 517
0 votes
4 answers
135 views

Why does Hubble's Law indicate motion?

I have been trying to understand and find some justification about why Hubble's Law needs to implicate any sort of relative motion between galaxies. I can understand why and how one would explain the ...
Spongie's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
70 views

If dark matter is axion particles, how did such light particles slow down?

One candidate for dark matter is axions and there is tentative experimental evidence for their existence. Axions are very light, most models weigh them in at tiny fractions of an eV. It seems like ...
Kevin Kostlan's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
86 views

Does the fact that we are able to see CMBR implies that universe expanded faster than light?

Supposedly, the universe underwent rapid expansion immediately after the big bang, surpassing the speed of light. If we can detect remnants from that era, does this suggest they moved faster than ...
Mr. Spock's user avatar

15 30 50 per page