Light-like Geodesic - What are the limits of integration?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the geodesic of a massless particle, focusing on the limits of integration in the context of a specific mathematical formulation involving time and spatial coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive expressions related to the geodesic but expresses confusion regarding the limits of integration. They question the implications of certain values at specific points in time and space.

Discussion Status

The discussion appears to be ongoing, with participants seeking clarity on the integration limits and the final expression. There is a notable lack of explicit consensus, as multiple participants have expressed uncertainty and have continued to prompt for responses.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the implications of specific values in the equations and the relationship between time and spatial coordinates, indicating potential missing information or assumptions that are not fully articulated.

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Homework Statement



Consider the following geodesic of a massless particle where ##\alpha## is a constant:

\dot r = \frac{\alpha}{a(t)^2}
c^2 \dot t^2 = \frac{\alpha^2}{a^2(t)}

2011_B5_Q2.png

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



Part (a)
c \frac{dt}{d\lambda} = \frac{\alpha}{a}
a dt = \frac{\alpha}{c} d\lambda
\frac{1}{H} a = \frac{\alpha}{c} \lambda + \epsilon^{'}
a = \frac{H}{c} \left( \alpha \lambda + \epsilon \right)

Similarly,
r = \frac{c^2}{H^2} \left[ -\frac{1}{\alpha \lambda + \epsilon} + \delta \right]

Part(b)
I'm confused as to what the limits of integration are. I'm not sure if this is right:

At ##t = t_0##, ##a(t_0) = 1 = \frac{H}{c} \left(\alpha \lambda + \epsilon \right)##.

At ##r = r_e## what happens to ##\delta##?
 
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Likes   Reactions: H Smith 94
How do I get the final expression?
 
bumpp
 
bumpp anyone?
 
bumping on light-like, limits.
 
bumpp
 
bumpp
 
  • #10
bumpp
 
  • #11
bumpp on last part
 
  • #12
bumpp
 
  • #13
bumpp
 
  • #14
bump
 

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