In this paper I examine cosmological models that contain a stochastic background of nonlinear electromagnetic radiation. I show that for Born-Infeld electrodynamics the equation of state parameter, $w=P/ρ$, remains close to 1/3 throughout the evolution of the universe if $E^2=B^2$ in the late universe to a high degree of accuracy.
Theories with electromagnetic Lagrangians of the form $L=-{1/4}F^2+αF^4$ have recently been studied in magnetic universes, where the electric field vanishes. It was shown that the $F^4$ term can produce a bounce in the early universe, avoiding an initial singularity. Here I show that the inclusion of an electric field, with $E^2\simeq B^2$ in the late universe, eliminates the bounce and the universe "begins" in an initial singularity.
I also examine theories with Lagrangians of the form $L=-{1/4}F^2-μ^8/F^2$, which have been shown to produce a period of late time accelerated expansion in magnetic universes. I show that, if an electric field is introduced, the accelerated phase will only occur if $E^2<3B^2$.
We study isotropic and anisotropic (Bianchi I) cosmologies in Palatini $f(R)$ and $f(R,R_{μν}R^{μν})$ theories of gravity and consider the existence of non-singular bouncing solutions in the early universe. We find that all $f(R)$ models with isotropic bouncing solutions develop shear singularities in the anisotropic case. On the contrary, the simple quadratic model $R+a R^2/R_P+R_{μν}R^{μν}/R_P$ exhibits regular bouncing solutions in both isotropic and anisotropic cases for a wide range of equations of state, including dust (for $a<0$) and radiation (for arbitrary $a$). It thus represents a p…
We investigate barotropic perfect fluid cosmologies which admit an isotropic singularity. From the General Vorticity Result of Scott, it is known that these cosmologies must be irrotational. In this paper we prove, using two different methods, that if we make the additional assumption that the perfect fluid is shear-free, then the fluid flow must be geodesic. This then implies that the only shear-free, barotropic, perfect fluid cosmologies which admit an isotropic singularity are the FRW models.
We analyse spacetimes with a conformal scalar field source, a cosmological constant and a quartic self-interaction term for the scalar field. We also consider additional matter contents in the form of Maxwell and Yang-Mills fields or radiation fluids. Existence theorems for weakly asymptotically flat spacetimes are given. We give a generalisation of Bekenstein's result [Ann. Phys. 82, 535 (1974)] and use it to derive existence theorems for spacetimes that contain an isotropic singularity. The results are combined to suggest a mathematical setup for Penrose's CCC scenario using a conformal scal…
A complete qualitative study of the dynamics of string cosmologies is presented for the class of isotopic curvature universes. These models are of Bianchi types I, V and IX and reduce to the general class of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes in the limit of vanishing shear isotropy. A non-trivial two-form potential and cosmological constant terms are included in the system. In general, the two-form potential and spatial curvature terms are only dynamically important at intermediate stages of the evolution. In many of the models, the cosmological constant is important asymptotically and anis…
Gravitational waves in isotropic cosmologies were recently studied using the gauge-invariant approach of Ellis-Bruni. We now construct the linearised metric perturbations of the background Robertson-Walker space-time which reproduce the results obtained in that study. The analysis carried out here also facilitates an easy comparison with Bardeen.
We study homogeneous and isotropic cosmologies in a Weyl spacetime. We show that for homogeneous and isotropic spacetimes, the field equations can be reduced to the Einstein equations with a two-fluid source. We write the equations as a two-dimensional dynamical system and analyze the qualitative, asymptotic behavior of the models. We examine the possibility that in certain theories the Weyl 1-form may give rise to a late accelerated expansion of the Universe and conclude that such behaviour is not met as a generic feature of the simplest cosmologies.
Most of the observational claims in cosmology are based on the assumption that the universe is isotropic and homogeneous so they essentially test different types of Friedmann models. This also refers to recent observations of supernovae Ia, which, within the framework of Friedmann cosmologies give strong support to negative pressure matter and also weaken the age conflict. In this essay we drop the assumption of homogeneity, though temporarily leaving the assumption of isotropy with respect to one point, and show that supernovae data can be consistent with a model of the universe with inhomoge…
We present a reconstruction algorithm for cosmological models based on $f(\mathcal{Q})$ gravity. We specifically focus on obtaining exact Bianchi Type-I and Friedmann-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker solutions, finding solutions that might have application in a variety of scenarios such as spontaneous isotropization of Bianchi Type-I models, dark energy, inflation as well as pre-Big Bang cosmologies.
Using explicit perturbations of isotropic cosmological models which describe simple gravitational waves, an isotropic tensor having the algebraic symmetries of the Bel-Robinson tensor is derived as a model of cosmic background gravitational radiation and this is used to provide an answer to the question: in what sense can an energy-momentum-stress tensor similar to that describing the cosmic microwave background radiation (neglecting anisotropies) be associated with an isotropic background of gravitational radiation?
We apply the results of singularity analysis to the isotropic cosmological models in general relativity and string theory with a variety of matter terms. For some of these models the standard Painlevé test is sufficient to demonstrate integrability or nonintegrability in the sense of Painlevé. For others of these models it is necessary to use a less algorithmic procedure.
We construct an exact relativistic cosmology in which an inhomogeneous but isotropic local region has fractal number counts and matches to a homogeneous background at a scale of the order of $10^2$ Mpc. We show that Einstein's equations and the matching conditions imply either a nonlinear Hubble law or a very low large-scale density.
We show that globally and regularly hyperbolic future geodesically incomplete isotropic universes, except for the standard all-encompassing `big crunch', can accommodate singularities of only one kind, namely, those having a non-integrable Hubble parameter, $H$. We analyze several examples from recent literature which illustrate this result and show that such behaviour may arise in a number of different ways. We also discuss the existence of new types of lapse singularities in inhomogeneous models, impossible to meet in the isotropic ones.
We review our recent work on the classification of finite time singularities that arise in isotropic universes. This scheme is based on the exploitation of the Bel Robinson energy in a cosmological setting. We comment on the relation between geodesic completeness and the Bel Robinson energy and present evidence that relates the divergence of the latter to the existence of closed trapped surfaces.
We study the propagation of gravitational waves carrying arbitrary information through isotropic cosmologies. The waves are modelled as small perturbations of the background Robertson-Walker geometry. The perfect fluid matter distribution of the isotropic background is, in general, modified by small anisotropic stresses. For pure gravity waves, in which the perturbed Weyl tensor is radiative (i.e. type N in the Petrov classification), we construct explicit examples for which the presence of the anisotropic stress is shown to be essential and the histories of the wave-fronts in the background R…
A qualitative analysis is presented for spatially flat, isotropic and homogeneous cosmologies derived from the string effective action when the combined effects of a dilaton, modulus, two-form potential and central charge deficit are included. The latter has significant effects on the qualitative dynamics. The analysis is also directly applicable to the anisotropic Bianchi type I cosmology.
We are investigating the dynamics of a new Poincaré gauge theory of gravity model, which has cross coupling between the spin-0$^+$ and spin-0$^-$ modes. To this end we here consider a very appropriate situation---homogeneous-isotropic cosmologies---which is relatively simple, and yet all the modes have non-trivial dynamics which reveals physically interesting and possibly observable results. More specifically we consider manifestly isotropic Bianchi class A cosmologies; for this case we find an effective Lagrangian and Hamiltonian for the dynamical system. The Lagrange equations for these mode…
We consider the problem of the nature and possible types of spacetime singularities that can form during the evolution of \emph{FRW} universes in general relativity. We show that by using, in addition to the Hubble expansion rate and the scale factor, the Bel-Robinson energy of these universes we can consistently distinguish between the possible different types of singularities and arrive at a complete classification of the singularities that can occur in the isotropic case. We also use the Bel-Robinson energy to prove that known behaviours of exact flat isotropic universes with given singular…
We present an anisotropic cosmological model based on a new exact solution of Einstein equations. The matter content consists of an anisotropic scalar field minimally coupled to gravity and of two isotropic perfect fluids that represent dust matter and radiation. The spacetime is described by a spatially homogeneous, Bianchi type III metric with a conformal expansion. The model respects the evolution of the scale factor predicted by standard cosmology, as well as the isotropy of the cosmic microwave background. Remarkably, the introduction of the scalar field, apart from explaining the spaceti…
We construct metric perturbations of two families of isotropic expanding universes describing gravitational waves propagating through these universes. The waves are non--planar and owe their wave front expansion solely to the expansion of the universes. The presence of this radiation leads to a small perturbation of the perfect fluid matter content of the universes by the appearance of an anisotropic stress. We then construct exact models of gravity waves in these universes. In this case the matter content of the models consists of the perfect fluid matter supplemented by anisotropic stress an…
The closed, spatially isotropic FLRW universe (k=+1) is endowed with modifications due to a discrete underlying space-structure. Motivated from Loop Quantum Gravity techniques, a full Thiemann regularisation is performed. The impact of these modifications of the single-graph-sector appearing in the scalar constraint are interpreted as physical quantum gravity effects. We investigate the form of the modified scalar constraint and its analytical approximations for k=+1 spacetimes and assume this effective constraint as the generator of dynamics on the reduced isotropic phase space. It transpires…
A linear cosmological perturbation theory of an almost homogeneous and isotropic perfect fluid Universe with dynamically evolving Newton constant $G$ and cosmological constant $Λ$ is presented. A gauge-invariant formalism is developed by means of the covariant approach, and the acoustic propagation equations governing the evolution of the comoving fractional spatial gradients of the matter density, $G$, and $Λ$ are thus obtained. Explicit solutions are discussed in cosmologies where both $G$ and $Λ$ vary according to renormalization group equations in the vicinity of a fixed point.
Within the theory of the ghost-free bigravity, we present the most general cosmological solution for which the physical metric is homogeneous and isotropic, while the second metric is inhomogeneous. The solution includes a matter source and exists for any values of the theory parameters. The physical metric describes a universe with the late time acceleration due to the effective cosmological term mimicked by the graviton mass. When perturbed, this universe should rest approximately homogeneous and isotropic in space regions small compared to the graviton Compton length. In the limit where the…
We study how the constants $G$ and $Λ$ may vary in different theoretical models (general relativity with a perfect fluid, scalar cosmological models (\textquotedblleft quintessence\textquotedblright) with and without interacting scalar and matter fields and a scalar-tensor model with a dynamical $Λ$) in order to explain some observational results. We apply the program outlined in section II to study three different geometries which generalize the FRW ones, which are Bianchi \textrm{V}, \textrm{VII}$_{0}$ and \textrm{IX}, under the self-similarity hypothesis. We put special emphasis on calculat…
We consider the conformal Einstein equations for massless collisionless gas cosmologies which admit an isotropic singularity. After developing the general theory, we restrict to spatially-homogeneous cosmologies. We show that the Cauchy problem for these equations is well-posed with data consisting of the limiting particle distribution function at the singularity.
The evolution of an homogeneous and isotropic dissipative fluid is analyzed using dynamical systems techniques. The dissipation is driven by bulk viscous pressure and the truncated Israel-Stewart theory is used. Although almost all solutions inflate, we show that only few of them can be considered as physical solutions since the dominant energy condition is not satisfied.
We study general dynamical equations describing homogeneous isotropic cosmologies coupled to a scalaron $ψ$. For flat cosmologies ($k=0$), we analyze in detail the gauge-independent equation describing the differential, $χ(α)\equivψ^\prime(α)$, of the map of the metric $α$ to the scalaron field $ψ$, which is the main mathematical characteristic locally defining a `portrait' of a cosmology in `$α$-version'. In the `$ψ$-version', a similar equation for the differential of the inverse map, $\barχ(ψ)\equiv χ^{-1}(α)$, can be solved asymptotically or for some `integrable' scalaron potentials $v(ψ)$…
We present the detailed derivation of the recently announced most general cosmological solution with homogeneous and isotropic metric in the ghost-free massive gravity theory. We use the standard parametrization of the theory in terms of the matrix square root, and then show how the same results are recovered within the tetrad formulation. The solution obtained includes the matter source, it exists for generic values of the theory parameters, and it describes a universe that can be spatially open, closed, or flat, and that shows the late time acceleration due to the effective cosmological term…
We analyze the Extended Quasi-Dilaton Massive Gravity model around a Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker cosmological background. We present a careful stability analysis of asymptotic fixed points. We find that the traditional fixed point cannot be approached dynamically, except from a perfectly fine-tuned initial condition involving both the quasi-dilaton and the Hubble parameter. A less-well examined fixed-point solution, where the time derivative of the 0-th Stückelberg field vanishes $\dotϕ^0=0$, encounters no such difficulty, and the fixed point is an attractor in some finite region of in…
It is shown that any spatially flat and isotropic universe undergoing accelerated expansion driven by a self-interacting scalar field can be directly related to a contracting, decelerating cosmology. The duality is made manifest by expressing the scale factor and Hubble parameter as functions of the scalar field and simultaneously interchanging these two quantities. The decelerating universe can be twinned with a cosmology sourced by a phantom scalar field by inverting the scale factor and leaving the Hubble parameter invariant. The accelerating model can be related to the same phantom univers…
We define the flatness and quasi-flatness problems in cosmological models. We seek solutions to both problems in homogeneous and isotropic Brans-Dicke cosmologies with varying speed of light. We formulate this theory and find perturbative, non-perturbative, and asymptotic solutions using both numerical and analytical methods. For a particular range of variations of the speed of light the flatness problem can be solved. Under other conditions there exists a late-time attractor with a constant value of Ωthat is smaller than, but of order, unity. Thus these theories may solve the quasi-flatness p…
The redshift of light is calculated for an anisotropic cosmological spacetime. Two different approaches are considered. In the first one, electromagnetic waves are modeled using the geometrical optics (high--frequency) approximation. This approach considers light rays following null geodesics, being equivalent to the motion followed by pointlike spinless massless particles. It is shown that the redshift for this case depends, in general, on the direction of propagation, and is dispersive (wavelength dependent) for light emitted from different points of an extended object. In the second approac…
In the present paper we study the evolution of the modes of a scalar field in a cyclic cosmology. In order to keep the discussion clear, we study the features of a scalar field in a toy model, a Friedman-Robertson-Walker universe with a periodic scale factor, in which the universe expands, contracts and bounces infinite times, in the approximation in which the dynamic features of this universe are driven by some external factor, without the backreaction of the scalar field under study. In particular, we show that particle production exhibits features of the cyclic cosmology. Also, by studying …
We show how the large-scale cosmological dynamics can be obtained from the hydrodynamics of isotropic group field theory condensate states in the Gross-Pitaevskii approximation. The correct Friedmann equations are recovered in the semi-classical limit for some choices of the parameters in the action for the group field theory, and quantum gravity corrections arise in the high-curvature regime causing a bounce which generically resolves the big-bang and big-crunch singularities.
In this paper we demonstrate that there are large classes of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmologies that admit isotropic conformal structures of Quiescent Cosmology. FRW models have long been known to admit singularities such as Big Bangs and Big Crunches [1, 2] but recently it has been shown that there are other cosmological structures that these solutions contain. These structures are Big Rips, Sudden Singularities and Extremality Events [1, 2]. Within the Quiescent Cosmology framework [3] there also exist structures consistent with a cosmological singularity known as the Isotropic Pas…
Inhomogeneous Cosmologies with Bumpy Structure from Superfluid Pionic Vortices and the propagation of electromagnetic field
Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs)(科学研究中心);Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad San Sebastián(塞巴斯蒂安大学工程学院);Instituto de Ciencias Fisicas y Matemáticas, Universidad Austral de Chile(智利南方大学物理与数学科学学院);Departamento de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad de La Frontera(弗雷兰特大学物理系);Institute of Systems Science, Durban University of Technology(德班理工大学系统科学研究所);Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Creación (CIIC), Universidad Católica de Temuco(特木科天主教大学创新与研究中心);Departamento de Ciencias Matemáticas y Físicas, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Católica de Temuco(特木科天主教大学工程学院数学与物理系);National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS)(理论与计算科学国家研究所)
Besides expanding anisotropically, the universe can also be anisotropic at the level of its (spatial) curvature. In particular, models with anisotropic curvature and isotropic expansion leads both to a $Λ$CDM-like phenomenology and to an isotropic and homogeneous CMB at the background level. Thus, they offer an interesting and viable example where the cosmological principle does not follow from the isotropy of observational data. In this paper we extract the linear dynamics of tensor perturbations in two classes of cosmologies with anisotropic spatial curvature. Two difficulties arise in compa…
We consider the evolution of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe, filled with a causal bulk viscous cosmological fluid, in the presence of variable gravitational and cosmological constants. The basic equation for the Hubble parameter, generalizing the evolution equation in the case of constant gravitational coupling and cosmological term, is derived, under the supplementary assumption that the total energy of the Universe is conserved. By assuming that the cosmological constant is proportional to the square of the Hubble parameter and a power law dependence of the bulk viscosity coeffic…
We present solution generating techniques which permit to construct exact inhomogeneous and anisotropic cosmological solutions to a four-dimensional low energy limit of string theory containing non-minimally interacting electromagnetic and dilaton fields. Some explicit homogeneous and inhomogeneous cosmological solutions are constructed. For example, inhomogeneous exact solutions presenting Gowdy - type EMD universe are obtained. The asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is investigated. The asymptotic form of the metric near the initial singularity has a spatially varying Kasner form. The cha…
We present a class of theories of two dimensional gravity which admits homogeneous and isotropic solutions that are nonsingular and asymptotically approach a FRW matter dominated universe at late times. These models are generalizations of two dimensional dilaton gravity and both vacuum solutions and those including conformally coupled matter are investigated. In each case our construction leads to an inflationary stage driven by the gravitational sector. Our work comprises a simple example of the `Nonsingular Universe' constructions of ref. [1].
We investigate the effects of the leading tadpole potentials of 10D tachyon-free non-supersymmetric strings in warped products of flat geometries of the type M(p+1) x R x T(10-p-2) depending on a single coordinate. In the absence of fluxes and for p<8, there are two families of these vacua for the orientifold disk-level potential, both involving a finite internal interval. Their asymptotics are surprisingly captured by tadpole-free solutions, isotropic for one family and anisotropic at one end for the other. In contrast, for the heterotic torus-level potential there are four types of vacua. Th…
We study the evolution of homogeneous and isotropic, flat cosmological models within the general scalar-tensor theory of gravity with arbitrary coupling function and potential and scrutinize its limit to general relativity. Using the methods of dynamical systems for the decoupled equation of the Jordan frame scalar field we find the fixed points of flows in two cases: potential domination and matter domination. We present the conditions on the mathematical form of the coupling function and potential which determine the nature of the fixed points (attractor or other). There are two types of fix…
We employ recently developed approximation methods in the hybrid quantization of the Gowdy $T^3$ model with linear polarization and a massless scalar field to obtain physically interesting solutions of this inhomogeneous cosmology. More specifically, we propose approximate solutions of the quantum Gowdy model constructed in such a way that, for the Hamiltonian constraint, they effectively behave as those corresponding to a flat homogeneous and isotropic universe filled with a perfect fluid, even though these quantum states are far from being homogeneous and isotropic. We analyze how one can ge…
We examine homogeneous but anisotropic cosmologies in scalar-tensor gravity theories, including Brans-Dicke gravity. We present a method for deriving solutions for any isotropic perfect fluid with a barotropic equation of state ($p\proptoρ$) in a spatially flat (Bianchi type~I) cosmology. These models approach an isotropic, general relativistic solution as the expansion becomes dominated by the barotropic fluid. All models that approach general relativity isotropize except for the case of a maximally stiff fluid. For stiff fluid or radiation or in vacuum we are able to give solutions for arbit…
Assuming only a homogeneous and isotropic universe and using both the 'Gold' Supernova Type Ia sample of Riess et al. and the results from the Supernova Legacy Survey, we calculate the Bayesian evidence of a range of different parameterizations of the deceleration parameter. We consider both spatially flat and curved models. Our results show that although there is strong evidence in the data for an accelerating universe, there is little evidence that the deceleration parameter varies with redshift.
We explore the cosmological solutions of a recently proposed extension of General Relativity with a Lorentz-invariant mass term. We show that the same constraint that removes the Boulware-Deser ghost in this theory also prohibits the existence of homogeneous and isotropic cosmological solutions. Nevertheless, within domains of the size of inverse graviton mass we find approximately homogeneous and isotropic solutions that can well describe the past and present of the Universe. At energy densities above a certain crossover value, these solutions approximate the standard FRW evolution with great…
Bouncing cosmologies are often proposed as alternatives to standard inflation for the explanation of the homogeneity and flatness of the universe. In such scenarios, the present cosmological expansion is preceded by a contraction phase. However, during the contraction, in general the anisotropy of the universe grows and eventually leads to a chaotic mixmaster behavior. This would either be hard to reconcile with observations or even lead to a singularity instead of the bounce. In order to preserve a smooth and isotropic bounce, the source for the contraction must have a super-stiff equation of…
We construct approximate solutions of the hybrid quantum Gowdy cosmology with three-torus topology, linear polarization, and local rotational symmetry, in the presence of a massless scalar field. More specifically, we determine some families of states for which the complicated inhomogeneous and anisotropic Hamiltonian constraint operator of the Gowdy model is approximated by a much simpler one. Our quantum states follow the dynamics governed by this simpler constraint, while being at the same time also approximate solutions of the full Gowdy model. This is so thanks to the quantum correlations…
A characteristic feature of loop quantization of the isotropic and Bianchi-I spacetimes is the existence of universal bounds on the energy density and the expansion and shear scalars, independent of the matter content. We investigate the properties of these physical quantities in Bianchi-II and Bianchi-IX spacetimes, which have been recently loop quantized using the connection operator approach. Using the effective Hamiltonian approach, we show that for Bianchi-II spacetime, energy density and the expansion and shear scalars turn out to be bounded, albeit not by universal values. In Bianchi-IX…
We consider the classical linear stability of a static universe filled with a non-interacting mixture of isotropic radiation and a ghost scalar field. Unlike the conventional Einstein static model, this cosmology is stable against homogeneous and isotropic perturbations. This is shown by means of exact oscillatory solutions about the original static state. We also examine the linear response of the static ghost universe to all types of inhomogeneous fluctuations, namely density, vorticity and gravitational-wave perturbations. The results show that the static background constrains the linear ev…
We study the two particular models of g-essence with Yukawa type interactions between a scalar field $ϕ$ and a classical Dirac field $ψ$. For the homogeneous, isotropic and flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe filled with the such g-essence, some exact solutions of these models are found. Moreover, we reconstruct the corresponding scalar and fermionic potentials.
We solve isotropic, homogeneous cosmological models containing a self-interacting scalar field. Calculations are performed in four and two-dimensional spacetimes. We find several exact solutions that have an inflationary regime or has a final Friedmann stage. Also their asymptotically stability is studied.
Several isotropic, homogeneous cosmological models containing a self-interacting minimally coupled scalar field, a perfect fluid source and cosmological constant are solved. New exact, asymptotically stable solutions with an inflationary regime or a final Friedmann stage are found for some simple, interesting potentials. It is shown that the fluid and the curvature may determine how these models evolve for large times.
The nature of the initial singularity in spatially compact plane symmetric scalar field cosmologies is investigated. It is shown that this singularity is crushing and velocity dominated and that the Kretschmann scalar diverges uniformly as it is approached. The last fact means in particular that a maximal globally hyperbolic spacetime in this class cannot be extended towards the past through a Cauchy horizon. A subclass of these spacetimes is identified for which the singularity is isotropic.
It has long been known that the covariant formulation of quantum electrodynamics conflicts with the local description of states in the charged sector. Some of the solutions to this problem amount to modifications of the subsidiary conditions below some arbitrarily low photon frequency. Such infrared modified theories have been shown to be equivalent to standard Maxwell electrodynamics with an additional classical electromagnetic current induced by the quantum charges. The induced current only has support for very small frequencies and cancels the effects of the physical charges on large scales…
The asymptotic properties of the Bianchi type II cosmological model in the Brane-world scenario are investigated. The matter content is assumed to be a combination of a perfect fluid and a minimimally coupled scalar field that is restricted to the Brane. The isotropic braneworld solution is determined to represent the initial singularity in all brane-world cosmologies. Additionally, it is shown that it is the kinetic energy of the scalar field which dominates the initial dynamics in these brane-world cosmologies. It is important to note that, the dynamics of these brane-world cosmologies is no…
The stability of the de Sitter era of cosmic expansion in spatially curved homogeneous isotropic universes is studied. The source of the gravitational field is an imperfect fluid such that the parameters that characterize it may change with time. In this way we extend our previous analysis for spatially-flat spaces as well as the work of Barrow.