Energy density of photons and matter

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the ratio of the current energy density of Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) photons to that of baryonic matter. The original poster mentions the present density of baryonic matter and the temperature of the CMBR, while attempting to derive the energy density of baryonic matter from its mass density.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of energy density for both CMBR and baryonic matter, with some questioning how to convert mass density into energy density. There are references to the relationship between mass and energy (E=mc²) and how this applies to the problem. Additionally, there are inquiries about the implications of redshift and temperature in relation to energy densities.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, sharing calculations and reasoning. Some have provided hints and clarifications regarding the conversion of mass density to energy density and the implications of redshift. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between energy densities and temperature, with no explicit consensus reached on the final calculations.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of constraints related to the original poster's inability to consult their lecturer, which may impact the depth of understanding. Participants also note the need to consider additional factors, such as the presence of neutrinos, in their calculations.

indie452
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hi

im doing a question at the moment and am having issues understanding the question, and i can't ask my lecturer as he is stuck abroad with no internet.

the question asks to calculate the ratio of current energy density of CMBR photons to that of baryonic matter.
the present density of baryonic matter in the universe is pm,0=2.56x10-27kg/m3
CMBR Temp = 2.725K

ok so i calculated energy density of the CMBR = 4/c * [sigma]T4 = 0.417x10-13J/m3
sigma=stefans constant
i'm not quite sure how to turn the pm,0 of baryonic matter into an energy density. but i can see it needs to be multiplied by dimensions (m/s)^2

thanks for any hints

also what does pm,0 mean?
 
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indie452 said:
hi

im doing a question at the moment and am having issues understanding the question, and i can't ask my lecturer as he is stuck abroad with no internet.

the question asks to calculate the ratio of current energy density of CMBR photons to that of baryonic matter.
the present density of baryonic matter in the universe is pm,0=2.56x10-27kg/m3
CMBR Temp = 2.725K

ok so i calculated energy density of the CMBR = 4/c * [sigma]T4 = 0.417x10-13J/m3
sigma=stefans constant
i'm not quite sure how to turn the pm,0 of baryonic matter into an energy density. but i can see it needs to be multiplied by dimensions (m/s)^2

thanks for any hints

also what does pm,0 mean?

The problem states what \rho_{m,0} means:
The present density of baryonic matter in the universe. This is the measured mass of baryons in our universe per cubic meter.
 
Hint: Where does the matter get its energy from??
 
i am thinking that i times the baryonic mass density by c^2
this would give 1.44Gev/m^3
so the ratio would be 0.261Mev/m3 / 1.44Gev/m^3 = 1.8125x10-4
 
But why? I know the units work and that is what I got as well. Where does energy from mass come form?
 
oh from the E=mc^2 relation of mass to energy.
 
indie452 said:
oh from the E=mc^2 relation of mass to energy.

Yep and since energy density \epsilon = \frac{E}{V}\epsilon = \frac{mc^2}{\frac{m}{\rho_0}} = \rho_0c^2
 
ok thanks for that the reasoning behind that makes more sense now

btw the next part says to calculate th redshift at which the energy density of matter = that of radiation (i.e. the CMBR photons)

i tried:

e = energy density

e[rad] / e[matter] = 1 when equal and this is also proportional to a-4/a-3 where a is cosmological scale factor. and i am told a ~ (z+1)

this would mean however that 1= 1/a = 1/(z+1) and so z=0
i know this is wrong

i think it should be ~3600 this value i found many times in my reading but didnt understand how it was found
 
ok i just tried

z+1 ~ (1.8x10-4)-1
so z is ~5526

i know this doesn't take into account 3 types of neutrinos
do i times 1.8x10-4 by 1.68 to take them into account?
 
  • #10
indie452 said:
ok thanks for that the reasoning behind that makes more sense now

btw the next part says to calculate th redshift at which the energy density of matter = that of radiation (i.e. the CMBR photons)

i tried:

e = energy density

e[rad] / e[matter] = 1 when equal and this is also proportional to a-4/a-3 where a is cosmological scale factor. and i am told a ~ (z+1)

this would mean however that 1= 1/a = 1/(z+1) and so z=0
i know this is wrong

i think it should be ~3600 this value i found many times in my reading but didnt understand how it was found

\epsilon_m = \epsilon_{m,0}(1+z)^3 and

\epsilon_{rad} = \epsilon_{rad, 0}(1+z)^4
 
  • #11
ok so em0/erad0 = 1+z

z= (1.8x10-4)^-1 - 1 = 5526.0066027

this gives a temp of the CMBR => T=1/(z+1) = 1.809x10-4 K
this doesn't seem right. surely temp should be larger than now?
 
  • #12
indie452 said:
ok so em0/erad0 = 1+z

z= (1.8x10-4)^-1 - 1 = 5526.0066027

this gives a temp of the CMBR => T=1/(z+1) = 1.809x10-4 K
this doesn't seem right. surely temp should be larger than now?

No, <br /> <br /> \frac{\epsilon_{rad}}{\epsilon_{m}} = \frac{\epsilon_{rad,0}}{\epsilon_{m,0}}(1+z)
 
  • #13
but surely
erad/em = 1 [cause I am looking for equality]
and so
erad/em = 1 = erad0(z+1)/em0
so
erad0/em0 = 1/(z+1)
therefore
z+1 = em0/erad0
which is what i put
 
  • #14
O right, my bad.
 
  • #15
thats ok, its just that it doesn't seem right.
is it correct to get the temp by saying T~1/(z+1)?
cause this just gives values i would have thought as being too small. or is this the overall temp of radiation and matter? and i only want the CMBR temp
 

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