Lemaître - Tolman (L--T) toy models with a central observer have been used to study the effect of large scale inhomogeneities on the SN Ia dimming. Claims that a giant void is mandatory to explain away dark energy in this framework are currently dominating. Our aim is to show that L-T models exist that reproduce a few features of the $Λ$CDM model, but do not contain the giant cosmic void. We propose to use two sets of data - the angular diameter distance together with the redshift-space mass-density and the angular diameter distance together with the expansion rate - both defined on the past null cone as functions of the redshift. We assume that these functions are of the same form as in the $Λ$CDM model. Using the Mustapha-Hellaby-Ellis algorithm, we numerically transform these initial data into the usual two L-T arbitrary functions and solve the evolution equation to calculate the mass distribution in spacetime. For both models, we find that the current density profile does not exhibit a giant void, but rather a giant hump. However, this hump is not directly observable, since it is in a spacelike relation to a present observer. The alleged existence of the giant void was a consequence of the L-T models used earlier because their generality was limited a priori by needless simplifying assumptions, like, for example, the bang-time function being constant. Instead, one can feed any mass distribution or expansion rate history on the past light cone as initial data to the L-T evolution equation. When a fully general L-T metric is used, the giant void is not implied.
We study linear perturbations to a Lema{\^ı}tre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) background spacetime. Studying the transformation behaviour of the perturbations under gauge transformations, we construct gauge invariant quantities. We show, using the perturbed energy conservation equation, that there are conserved quantities in LTB, in particular a spatial metric trace perturbation, ζ_{SMTP}, which is conserved on all scales. We then briefly extend our discussion to the Lema{\^ı}tre spacetime, and construct gauge-invariant perturbations in this extension of LTB spacetime.
A rigorous demonstration that given appropriate data on our past light cone leads to the determination of the metric functions and all their time derivatives on our past light cone is presented, thus showing how to evolve the solution we obtain from data on the light cone off it in a well-defined and straightforward way. It also automatically gives a procedure for constructing the solution for all spherically symmetric, inhomogeneous cosmological Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi models in observational coordinates as a Taylor series in time of however many terms we need. Our procedure takes into account …
We propose to explain the dimming of distant supernovae as the combined effect of dark energy and a Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) metric. We take dark energy to have a shear-dependent pressure $p_{DE}=(w_0+εw_1)ρ_{DE}$ where $ε$ is the ratio of LTB shear to LTB expansion.
We argued in a previous paper [R. A. Vanderveld et al. 2006, arXiv:astro-ph/0602476] that negative deceleration parameters at the center of symmetry in Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi cosmological models can only occur if the model is not smooth at the origin. Here we demonstrate explicitly the connection between non-smoothness and the failure of positivity theorems for deceleration. We also address some confusion that has arisen in the literature and respond to some recent criticisms of our arguments.
In this thesis we present research into linear perturbations in Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) and Assisted Coupled Quintessence (ACQ) Cosmologies. First we give a brief overview of the standard model of cosmology. We then introduce Cosmological Perturbation Theory (CPT) at linear order for a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology. Next we study linear perturbations to a Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) background spacetime. Studying the transformation behaviour of the perturbations under gauge transformations, we construct gauge invariant quantities in LTB. We show, using the perturbed energ…
The Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi solution has received much attention as a possible alternative to Dark Energy, as it is able to account for the apparent acceleration of the Universe without any exotic matter content. However, in order to make rigorous comparisons between these models and cosmological observations, such as the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect, baryon acoustic oscillations and the observed matter power spectrum, it is absolutely necessary to have a proper understanding of the linear perturbation theory about them. Here we present this theory in a fully general, and gauge-invariant form. …
We extended the modified Lemaitre-Tolman model taking into account the effect of angular momentum and dynamical friction. The inclusion of these quantities in the equation of motion modifies the evolution of a perturbation, initially moving with the Hubble flow. Solving the equation of motions we got the relationships between mass, $M$, and the turn-around radius, $R_0$. Knowing $R_0$, the quoted relation allows the determination of the mass of the object studied. The relationships for the case in which also the angular momentum is taken into account gives a mass $\simeq 90$ \% larger than the…
We consider the redshift drift and position drift associated with astrophysical sources in a formalism that is suitable for describing emitters and observers of light in an arbitrary spacetime geometry, while identifying emitters of a given null-geodesic bundle that arrives at the observer worldline. We then restrict the situation to the special case of a Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) geometrical structure, and solve for light rays propagating through the structure with arbitrary impact parameters, i.e., with arbitrary angles of entry into the LTB structure. The redshift drift signal emitted by …
It has been argued in the literature that in order to make a matter dominated Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker universe compatible with the generalized second law of thermodynamics, one must invoke dark energy, or modified gravity. In the present article we investigate if in a similar spirit, inhomogeneous cosmological models can be motivated on thermodynamic grounds. We examine a particular minimal void Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi inhomogeneous model which agrees well with observations. While on the one hand we find that the entropy associated with the apparent horizon is not well-behaved thermo…
We consider extensions of Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) spacetimes to the dissipative case. For doing that we previously carry out a systematic study on LTB. This study is based on two different aspects of LTB. On the one hand, a symmetry property of LTB will be presented. On the other hand, the description of LTB in terms of some fundamental scalar functions (structure scalars) appearing in the orthogonal splitting of Riemann tensor will be provided. We shall consider as "natural" generalizations of LTB (hereafter referred to as GLTB) either those metrics admitting some similar kind of symmetry…
Closed-form approximations of fundamental quantities of Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi cosmologies from Symbolic Regression: I. Results on the Garcia-Bellido-Haugbølle parameterization
Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço（空间天体物理与天文研究所）；Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa（里斯本大学理学院）；Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa（里斯本大学理学院物理系）；Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine（加州大学尔湾分校唐纳德·布伦信息与计算机科学学院）；Sydney Institute for Astronomy, School of Physics, The University of Sydney（悉尼大学物理学院悉尼天文研究所）；University of Edinburgh, Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics（爱丁堡大学希格斯理论物理中心）
We consider Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi spacetimes from the point of view of a tilted observer, i.e. one with respect to which the fluid is radially moving. The imperfect fluid and the congruence described by its four-velocity, as seen by the tilted observer is studied in detail. It is shown that from the point of view of such tilted observer the fluid evolves non-reversibly (i.e. with non-vanishing rate of entropy production). The non-geodesic character of the tilted congruence is related to the non-vanishing of the divergence of the 4-vector entropy flow. We determine the factor related to the exi…
We present in this paper a new application of the geodesic light-cone (GLC) gauge for weak lensing calculations. Using interesting properties of this gauge, we derive an exact expression of the amplification matrix - involving convergence, magnification and shear - and of the deformation matrix - involving the optical scalars. These expressions are simple and non-perturbative as long as no caustics are created on the past light-cone and are, by construction, free from the thin lens approximation. We apply these general expressions on the example of an Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) model with an …
This work provides a general discussion of the spatially inhomogeneous Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) cosmology, as well as its basic properties and many useful relevant quantities, such as the cosmological distances. We apply the concept of the single null geodesic to produce some simple analytical solutions for observational quantities such as the redshift. As an application of the single null geodesic technique, we carry out a fractal approach to the parabolic LTB model, comparing it to the spatially homogeneous Einstein-de Sitter cosmology. The results obtained indicate that the standard mode…
Recently, some Lema{\^ı}tre-Tolman-Bondi metrics have been considered as models alternative to the dark energy within the Friedmann-Lema{\^ı}tre-Robertson-Walker universes. The vanishing of the intrinsic energy of these metrics is examined since such a vanishing, in the present case and in general, could be interpreted as a necessary condition to consider the possibility of the quantum creation of a metric. More specifically, this vanishing is examined in the particular case where the Lema{\^ı}tre-Tolman-Bondi metrics behave asymptotically like a Friedmann-Lema{\^ı}tre-Robertson-Walker univers…
In this paper, we extend our previous study \cite{DelPopolo2021} on the Lemaitre-Tolman (LT) model showing how the prediction of the model changes when the equation of state parameter ($w$) of dark energy is modified. In the previous study, it was considered that dark energy was merely constituted by the cosmological constant. In this paper, as in the previous study, we also took into account the effect of angular momentum and dynamical friction ($Jη$ LT model) that modifies the evolution of a perturbation, initially moving with the Hubble flow. As a first step, solving the equation of motion,…
We build a simple cosmological model by means of a parabolic Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) metric up to a redshift $z\simeq 0.4$, an hyperbolic Friedmann metric for $z\sim 0.4$ up to the scale where dimming galaxies are observed ($z\sim 1.4$) and a bulk spatially flat metric up to the last scattering surface. Following Wiltshire, by taking into account the different rate of clocks for an observer at the centre of a parabolic LTB spacetime with respect to a one in the hyperbolic Friedmann metric, an "apparent" negative deceleration parameter is perceived by the observer at the centre of LTB, prov…
We study the evolution of linear perturbations in a Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) void model with realistic cosmological initial conditions. Linear perturbation theory in LTB models is substantially more complicated than in standard Friedmann universes as the inhomogeneous background causes gauge-invariant perturbations to couple at first order. As shown by Clarkson et al. (2009), the evolution is constrained by a system of linear partial differential equations which need to be integrated numerically. We present a new numerical scheme using finite element methods to solve this equation system an…
This is the first paper of a series aiming at investigating galaxy formation and evolution in the giant-void class of the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) models that best fits current cosmological observations. Here we investigate the Luminosity Function (LF) methodology, and how its estimates would be affected by a change on the cosmological model assumed in its computation. Are the current observational constraints on the allowed Cosmology enough to yield robust LF results? We use the far-infrared source catalogues built on the observations performed with the Herschel/PACS instrument, and select…
We derive a class of non-static inhomogeneous dust solutions in f(R) gravity described by the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) metric. The field equations are fully integrated for all parameter subcases and compared with analogous subcases of LTB dust solutions of GR. Since the solutions do not admit regular symmetry centres, we have two possibilities: (i) a spherical dust cloud with angle deficit acting as the source of a vacuum Schwarzschild-like solution associated with a global monopole, or (ii) fully regular dust wormholes without angle deficit, whose rest frames are homeomorphic to the Schwar…
We consider inhomogeneous spherically symmetric models based on the Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) metric, assuming as its source an interactive mixture of ordinary baryonic matter, cold dark matter and dark energy with a coupling term proportional to the addition of energy densities of both dark fluids. We reduce Einstein's field equations to a first order 7-dimensional autonomous dynamical system of evolution equations and algebraic constraints. We study in detail the evolution of the energy density and spatial curvature profiles along the phase space by means of two subspace projections: a thr…
We introduce quasi-local integral scalar variables for the study of spherically symmetric Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) dust models. Besides providing a covariant, and theoretically appealing, interpretation for the parameters of these models, these variables allow us to study their dynamics (in their full generality) by means of fluid flow evolution equations that can be handled with simple numerical techniques and has a significant potential for astrophysical and cosmological applications. These evolution equations can also be understood in the framework of a gauge invariant and covariant form…
In this work, we try to obtain a stable Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) static universe, which is spherically symmetric and radially inhomogeneous. However, this is not an easy task, and fails in general relativity (GR) and various modified gravity theories, because the corresponding LTB static universes must reduce to the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) static universes. We find a way out in a new type of modified gravity theory, in which the conservation of energy and momentum is broken. In this work, we have proposed a novel modification to the original Rastall gravity. In some sense, our Rast…
As is well known, one can explain the current cosmic acceleration by considering an inhomogeneous and/or anisotropic universe (which violates the cosmological principle), without invoking dark energy or modified gravity. The well-known one of this kind of models is the so-called Lema\^ıtre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) void model, in which the universe is spherically symmetric and radially inhomogeneous, and we are living in a locally underdense void centered nearby our location. In the present work, we test various LTB void models with some old high redshift objects (OHROs). Obviously, the universe cann…
We examine the radial asymptotic behavior of spherically symmetric Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi dust models by looking at their covariant scalars along radial rays, which are spacelike geodesics parametrized by proper length $\ell$, orthogonal to the 4-velocity and to the orbits of SO(3). By introducing quasi-local scalars defined as integral functions along the rays, we obtain a complete and covariant representation of the models, leading to an initial value parametrization in which all scalars can be given by scaling laws depending on two metric scale factors and two basic initial value functions. …
The goal of this work is to compute the number density of far-IR selected galaxies in the comoving frame and along the past lightcone of observationally constrained LTB models and to compare those results with their standard model counterparts. We derived integral number densities and differential number densities using different cosmological distance definitions in the LTB models. Then, we computed selection functions and consistency functions for the luminosity functions in the combined fields of the Herschel/PACS evolutionary probe (PEP) survey in both standard and void cosmologies, from wh…
During the past fifteen years, inhomogeneous cosmological models have been put forward to explain the observed dimming of the SNIa luminosity without resorting to dark energy. The simplest models are the spherically symmetric Lemaître-Tolman (LT) solutions with a central observer. Their use must be considered as a mere first step towards more sophisticated models. Spherical symmetry is but a mathematical simplification and one must consider spherical symmetric models as exhibiting an energy density smoothed out over angles around us. However, they have been taken at face value by some authors …
We undertake a comprehensive and rigorous analytic study of the evolution of radial profiles of covariant scalars in regular Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi dust models. We consider specifically the phenomenon of "profile inversions" in which an initial clump profile of density, spatial curvature or the expansion scalar, might evolve into a void profile (and vice versa). Previous work in the literature on models with density void profiles and/or allowing for density profile inversions is given full generalization, with some erroneous results corrected. We prove rigorously that if an evolution without sh…
We, first, analytically work out the long-term, i.e. averaged over one orbital revolution, perturbations on the orbit of a test particle moving in a local Fermi frame induced therein by the cosmological tidal effects of the inhomogeneous Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) model. The LTB solution has recently attracted attention, among other things, as a possible explanation of the observed cosmic acceleration without resorting to dark energy. Then, we phenomenologically constrain both the parameters K_1 = -\ddot R/R and K_2 = -\ddot R^'/R^' of the LTB metric in the Fermi frame by using different kind…
We consider the spherically symmetric metric with a comoving perfect fluid and non-zero pressure -- the Lemaitre metric -- and present it in the form of a calculational algorithm. We use it to review the definition of mass, and to look at the apparent horizon relations on the observer's past null cone. We show that the introduction of pressure makes it difficult to separate the mass from other physical parameters in an invariant way. Under the usual mass definition, the apparent horizon relation, that relates the diameter distance to the cosmic mass, remains the same as in the Lemaitre-Tolman …
We discuss the existence of a dividing shell separating expanding and collapsing regions in spherically symmetric solutions with pressure. We obtain gauge invariant conditions relating not only the intrinsic spatial curvature of the shells to the ADM mass, but also a function of the pressure which we introduce that generalises the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equilibrium condition, in the framework of a 3+1 spacetime splitting. We consider the particular case of a Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi dust models with a cosmological constant (a $Λ$-CDM model) as an example of our results.
The increasing tension between the different local direct measurements of the Hubble expansion rate and that inferred from the Cosmic Microwave Background observation by $Λ$-Cold-Dark-Matter model could be a smoking gun of new physics, if not caused by either observational systematics or local bias. We generalize previous investigation on the local bias from a local void by globally fitting the Pantheon sample over all parameters in the radial profile function of a local void described by an inhomogeneous but isotropic Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi metric with a cosmological constant. Our conclusion s…
Cosmic parallax is the change of angular separation between pair of sources at cosmological distances induced by an anisotropic expansion. An accurate astrometric experiment like Gaia could observe or put constraints on cosmic parallax. Examples of anisotropic cosmological models are Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi void models for off-center observers (introduced to explain the observed acceleration without the need for dark energy) and Bianchi metrics. If dark energy has an anisotropic equation of state, as suggested recently, then a substantial anisotropy could arise at $z \lesssim 1$ and escape the s…
The Szekeres family of inhomogeneous solutions, which are defined by six arbitrary metric functions, offers a wide range of possibilities for modelling cosmic structure. Here we present a model construction procedure for the quasispherical case using given data at initial and final times. Of the six arbitrary metric functions, the three which are common to both Szekeres and Lemaître-Tolman models are determined by the model construction procedure of Krasinski & Hellaby. For the remaining three functions, which are unique to Szekeres models, we derive exact analytic expressions in terms of more…
Void models provide a possible explanation of the "accelerated expansion" of the Universe without dark energy. To make the conventional void models more realistic, we allow the void, an underdense region around us, to be anisotropic and consider an average of the distance-redshift relations over the solid angle subtended at the observer. We first show that after taking the average of a form of the optical scalar equation (distance equation), the effective distance equation we obtain coincides with the one for the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi universe with a Dyer-Roeder-like extension. We then numeric…
We apply a recent proposal to define "gravitational entropy" to the expansion of cosmic voids within the framework of non-perturbative General Relativity. By considering CDM void configurations compatible with basic observational constraints, we show that this entropy grows from post-inflationary conditions towards a final asymptotic value in a late time fully non-linear regime described by the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) dust models. A qualitatively analogous behavior occurs if we assume a positive cosmological constant consistent with a $Λ$-CDM background model. However, the $Λ$ term introdu…
We apply our tetrad-based approach for constructing spherically-symmetric solutions in general relativity to modelling a void, and compare it with the standard Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) formalism. In particular, we construct models for the void observed in the direction of Draco in the WISE-2MASS galaxy survey, and a corresponding cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature decrement in the Planck data in the same direction. We find that the present-day density and velocity profiles of the void are not well constrained by the existing data, so that void models produced from the two approac…
We investigate Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) models, whose early time evolution and bang time are homogeneous and the distance - redshift relation and local Hubble parameter are inherited from the $Λ$CDM model. We show that the obtained LTB models and the $Λ$CDM model predict different relative local expansion rates and that the Hubble functions of the models diverge increasingly with redshift. The LTB models show tension between low redshift baryon acoustic oscillation and supernova observations and including Lyman-$α$ forest or cosmic microwave background observations only accentuates the bett…
As an alternative to dark energy it has been suggested that we may be at the center of an inhomogeneous isotropic universe described by a Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) solution of Einstein's field equations. In order to test this hypothesis we calculate the general analytical formula to fifth order for the redshift spherical shell mass. Using the same analytical method we write the metric in the light-cone by introducing a gauge invariant quantity $G(z)$ which together with the luminosity distance $D_L(z)$ completely determine the light-cone geometry of a LTB model.
