What Are the Steps to Solve the FRW Cosmological Model?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmological model, focusing on various aspects such as the variation of density with scale factor, pressure, and luminosity distance in relation to redshift. Participants are exploring the mathematical relationships and implications of these concepts within cosmology.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to derive relationships between density, pressure, and scale factor, particularly questioning how to express certain variables in terms of others, such as ##x## in terms of ##\lambda##. There are also discussions on expanding luminosity distance in terms of redshift and the implications of different cosmological parameters.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of parts (b) and (c), with multiple participants expressing difficulty in finding solutions and seeking clarification on specific steps. Some progress has been made in part (d), but overall, the discussion remains active with no clear consensus reached on the challenges presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework guidelines, which may limit the amount of direct assistance they can receive. The complexity of the equations and the need for careful manipulation of variables are central to the discussion.

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Homework Statement



(a)Find how ##\rho## varies with ##a##.
(b) Show that ##p = \frac{2}{\lambda^2}##. Find ##B## and ##t_0##.
(c) Find ##w## and ##q_0##. What values of ##\lambda## makes the particle horizon infinite? Find the event horizon and age of universe.
(d) Find luminosity distance ##D_L## in terms of redshift ##z##. Find ##q_0## by expanding.[/B]

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Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
Part(a)
For ##V_0 = 0##, we can see that ##\rho = P = \frac{1}{2} \dot \phi^2##. Thus ##w=1##. For dependency on ##a##:
\ddot \phi + 3(\frac{\dot a}{a})\dot \phi = 0
\dot \rho + 12(\frac{\dot a}{a}) \rho = 0
a^{-12}\frac{d}{dt}(\rho a^{12}) = 0
\rho \propto a^{-12}

Part (b)
I'll replace the ##p## by ##x## to avoid confusion with pressure ##P##. Given ##a(t) = t^x## and ##\phi = BM ln(\frac{t}{t_0})##, we have ##\frac{\dot a}{a} = \frac{x}{t}## and ##\dot \phi = \frac{BM}{t}## and ##\ddot \phi = -\frac{BM}{t^2}##.

Substituting into equation of motion:
\frac{-BM}{t^2} + 3\left(\frac{x}{t}\right)\left(\frac{BM}{t}\right) - \frac{\lambda V_0}{M} \left( \frac{t}{t_0} \right)^{-\lambda B}
BM(3x - 1) - \frac{\lambda}{M} V_0 t^2 \left( \frac{t}{t_0} \right)^{-\lambda B} = 0

Substituting into FRW equation:
\frac{x^2}{t^2} = \frac{8\pi G}{3} \left[ \frac{2}{2}\left(\frac{BM}{t}\right)^2 + V_0 \left( \frac{t}{t_0} \right)^{-\lambda B} \right]
x^2 = \frac{B^2}{6} + \frac{8 \pi G}{3}V_0 t^2 \left( \frac{t}{t_0} \right)^{-\lambda B}
Using our result from the equation of motion:
x^2 = \frac{B^2}{6}+ \frac{8 \pi G}{3} \left[ \frac{BM^2}{\lambda} (3x-1) \right]
x^2 - \left(\frac{B}{\lambda}\right)x + \left( \frac{B}{3\lambda} - \frac{B^2}{6} \right) = 0

Can't seem to get ##x## solely in terms of ##\lambda##, am I doing something wrong?

Part(d)
The metric for a flat, isotopic and homogeneous universe is given by
ds^2 = -c^2 dt^2 + a(t)^2 \left[ d\chi^2 + S^2(\chi) \left( d\theta^2 + sin^2\theta d\phi^2 \right) \right]

Flux is given by ##F = \frac{L}{4\pi D_L^2}##. From the metric, proper area is given by ##A = 4\pi(a_0 \chi)^2 = 4\pi \chi^2##. But due to redshift, photons are delayed by ##\nu_0 = \frac{\nu_e}{1+z}##. Thus we have
D_L = \chi(1+z)
where ##\chi## is the comoving distance.
This is only in first order, how do I expand it in 2nd order?!
 
Last edited:
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Would appreciate help on parts (b) and (c), but I made a slight bit of progress on part (d).

Part (d)
We know that ##D_L = \chi (1+z)##. I now need to re-express ##\chi## in terms of ##z##. For a light-like geodesic,
\chi = c \int \frac{1}{a(t)} dt
I read a useful trick is ##dz = d(1+z) = - \frac{\dot a}{a^2} dt = -(1+z) H(z) dz##. Substituting in,
\chi = c \int_0^z \frac{1}{H(z)} dz
D_L = c(1+z) \int_0^z \frac{1}{H(z)} dz
Using ##H(z) = H_0 \left[ 1 + (1+q_0)z + \cdots \right] ##:
D_L \approx \frac{c(1+z)}{H_0} \int_0^z \frac{1}{1 + (1+q_0)z} dz
D_L \approx \frac{c(1+z)}{H_0} \int_0^z \frac{1}{1 + (1+q_0)z} dz
D_L = \frac{c(1+z)}{H_0(1+q_0)} ln \left[ 1 + (1+q_0)z \right]
D_L \approx \frac{c(1+z)}{H_0(1+q_0)} \left[ (1+q_0)z - \frac{\left[ (1+q_0)z \right]^2}{2} \right]
D_L \approx \frac{c}{H_0}z \left[1 + \frac{z}{2}(1-q_0) \right]
 
Last edited:
bump on part (b)..
 
bump part (b)
 
Bump on part (b) - How do I get ##x## in terms of ##\lambda##?
 
Would appreciate help with part (b) please
 
any luck with solving ##x(\lambda)##?
 
anyone had a go with part (b)?
 
Still can't see how you can find ##p(\lambda)##..
 
  • #10
anyone else tried part (b) yet?
 
  • #11
bumpp part (b)
 
  • #12
bump on (b) and (c)
 
  • #13
bump on part (b) first
 
  • #14
bump on (b)
 
  • #15
part (b) bumping
 
  • #16
bump on part (b)
 
  • #17
bumpp on part (b)
 
  • #18
bumpp - I think there is a trick somewhere (dimensional analysis or something)
 
  • #19
bump
 

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