We outline the key-steps toward the construction of a physical, fully relativistic cosmology. The influence of inhomogeneities on the effective evolution history of the Universe is encoded in backreaction terms and expressed through spatially averaged geometrical invariants. These are absent and potential candidates for the missing dark sources in the standard model. Since they can be interpreted as energies of an emerging scalar field (the morphon), we are in the position to propose a strategy of how phenomenological scalar field models for Dark Energy, Dark Matter and Inflation, that are usually added as fundamental sources to a homogeneous-geometry (FLRW) cosmology, can be potentially traced back to inhomogeneous geometrical properties of space and its embedding into spacetime. We lay down a line of arguments that is - thus far only qualitatively - conclusive, and we address open problems of quantitative nature, related to the interpretation of observations. We discuss within a covariant framework ... [abridged]
An inhomogeneous version of pre--Big Bang cosmology emerges, within string theory, from quite generic initial conditions, provided they lie deeply inside the weak-coupling, low-curvature regime. Large-scale homogeneity, flatness, and isotropy appear naturally as late-time outcomes of such an evolution.
Astronomical observations reveal hierarchical structures in the Universe, from galaxies, groups of galaxies, clusters and superclusters, to filaments and voids. On the largest scales it seems that some kind of statistical homogeneity can be observed. As a result, modern cosmological models are based on spatially homogeneous and isotropic solutions of the Einstein equations, and the evolution of the universe is approximated by the Friedmann equations. In parallel to standard homogeneous cosmology, the field of inhomogeneous cosmology and backreaction is being developed. This field investigates …
We consider the possibility to solve the issues of the phantom field cosmology by means of the PT-symmetric quantum theory. The Born-Oppenheimer approximation is applied to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation to study the inhomogeneous fluctuations over the homogeneous minisuperspace. The evolution of the longitudinal inhomogeneous modes in WKB-time is described using a time-dependent pseudo-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian.
Recently a new no-global-recollapse argument was given for some inhomogeneous and anisotropic cosmologies that utilizes surface deformation by the mean curvature flow. In this paper we discuss important properties of the mean curvature flow of spacelike surfaces in Lorentzian manifolds. We show that singularities may form during cosmic evolution and the theorems forbidding the global recollapse lose their validity. The time evolution of the spatial scalar curvature that may kinematically prevent the recollapse is determined in normal coordinates, which shows the impact of inhomogeneities expli…
Families of anisotropic and inhomogeneous string cosmologies containing non-trivial dilaton and axion fields are derived by applying the global symmetries of the string effective action to a generalized Einstein-Rosen metric. The models exhibit a two-dimensional group of Abelian isometries. In particular, two classes of exact solutions are found that represent inhomogeneous generalizations of the Bianchi type VI_h cosmology. The asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is investigated and further applications are briefly discussed.
We obtain a scaling relation for spherically symmetric k-essence scalar fields $ϕ(r,t)$ for an inhomogeneous cosmology with the Lemaitre-Tolman- Bondi (LTB) metric. We show that this scaling relation reduces to the known relation for a homogeneous cosmology when the LTB metric reduces to the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric under certain identifications of the metric functions. A k-essence lagrangian is set up and the Euler-Lagrangian equations solved assuming $ϕ(r,t)=ϕ_{1}(r) + ϕ_{2}(t)$. The solutions enable the LBT metric functions to be related to the fields. The LTB inhom…
Saulder et al [2019, A&A, 622, A83; arXiv:1811.11976] have performed a novel observational test of the local expansion of the Universe for the standard cosmology as compared to an alternative model with differential cosmic expansion. Their analysis employs mock galaxy samples from the Millennium Simulation, a Newtonian $N$-body simulation on a $Λ$CDM background. For the differential expansion case the simulation has been deformed in an attempt to incorporate features of a particular inhomogeneous cosmology: the timescape model. It is shown that key geometrical features of the timescape cosmolo…
After recalling a general non-perturbative expression for the luminosity-redshift relation holding in a recently proposed "geodesic light-cone" gauge, we show how it can be transformed to phenomenologically more convenient gauges in which cosmological perturbation theory is better understood. We present, in particular, the complete result on the luminosity-redshift relation in the Poisson gauge up to second order for a fairly generic perturbed cosmology, assuming that appreciable vector and tensor perturbations are only generated at second order. This relation provides a basic ingredient for t…
The spectral distortion of the cosmic microwave background blackbody spectrum in a radially inhomogeneous spacetime, designed to exactly reproduce a LambdaCDM expansion history along the past light cone, is shown to exceed the upper bound established by COBE-FIRAS by a factor of approximately 3700. This simple observational test helps uncover a slew of pathological features that lie hidden inside the past light cone, including a radially contracting phase at decoupling and, if followed to its logical extreme, a naked singularity at the radially inhomogeneous Big Bang.
Vacuum energy is a simple model for dark energy driving an accelerated expansion of the universe. If the vacuum energy is inhomogeneous in spacetime then it must be interacting. We present the general equations for a spacetime-dependent vacuum energy in cosmology, including inhomogeneous perturbations. We show how any dark energy cosmology can be described by an interacting vacuum+matter. Different models for the interaction can lead to different behaviour (e.g., sound speed for dark energy perturbations) and hence could be distinguished by cosmological observations. As an example we present t…
Soliton solutions are recovered as scale-invariant asymptotic states of vacuum inhomogeneous cosmologies using renormalization group method. The stability analysis of these states is also given.
Specific dark energy models with linear inhomogeneous time-dependent equation of state, within the framework of 4d Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology, are investigated. It is demonstrated that the choice of such 4d inhomogeneous fluid models may lead to a brane FRW cosmology without any explicit account of higher dimensions at all. Effectively, we thus obtain a brane dark energy universe without introducing the brane concept explicitly. Several examples of brane Rip cosmology arising from 4d inhomogeneous dark fluid models are given.
In this paper, we describe the first steps towards fully non-perturbative cosmology. We explain why the conventional methods used by cosmologists based on the ADM formulation are generally inadequate for this purpose and why it is advantageous instead to adapt the harmonic formulation pioneered and utilized in mathematical and numerical relativity. Here we focus on using this approach to evaluating the linear mode stability in homogeneous and nearly homogeneous backgrounds and devising a valid scheme and diagnostics for numerical computation. We also briefly touch on the relevance of these met…
We present a new exact solution in Brans-Dicke theory. The solution describes inhomogeneous plane-symmetric perfect fluid cosmological model with an equation of state $p=γρ$. Some main properties of the solution are discussed.
This brief article sums up results obtained in arXiv:0911.2653, which develops a constrained SU(2) lattice gauge theory in the "dipole" approximation. This is a further step toward the issue of a (inhomogeneous) loop quantum cosmology and its merging into loop quantum gravity.
The conditions for the appearance of the Little Rip, Pseudo Rip and Quasi Rip universes in the terms of the parameters in the equation of state of some dark fluid are investigated. Several examples of the Rip cosmologies are investigated.
The Einstein-Klein-Gordon field equations are solved in a inhomogeneous shear-free universe containing a material fluid, a self-interacting scalar field, a variable cosmological term, and a heat flux. A quintessence-dominated scenario arises with a power-law accelerated expansion compatible with the currently observed homogeneous universe.
Interest in cosmological singularities has remarkably grown in recent times, particularly on future singularities with the discovery of late-time acceleration of the universe and dark energy. Recent work has seen a proper classification of such singularities into strong and weak based on their strength, with weak singularities being the likes of sudden, w and big freeze singularities and strong singularities like the big rip. This has led to a classification of such singularities in various types like Big rip is Type 1, w-singularity is type V etc. While singularities of type I-type IV have be…
We perform three-dimensional numerical relativity simulations of homogeneous and inhomogeneous expanding spacetimes, with a view towards quantifying non-linear effects from cosmological inhomogeneities. We demonstrate fourth-order convergence with errors less than one part in 10^6 in evolving a flat, dust Friedmann-Lemaitre-Roberston-Walker (FLRW) spacetime using the Einstein Toolkit within the Cactus framework. We also demonstrate agreement to within one part in 10^3 between the numerical relativity solution and the linear solution for density, velocity and metric perturbations in the Hubble …
In this work cosmological models are considered for the low energy string cosmological effective action (tree level) in the absence of dilaton potential. A two parametric non-diagonal family of analytic solutions is found. The curvature is non singular, however the string coupling diverges exponentially.
We model the large scale late time universe as a Lambda-CDM cosmology driven by cosmological constant and perfect dust fluid. Our aim is to find new solutions in the matter and Lambda epoch consistent with inflationary initial conditions, namely that to the far past in the matter era the cosmology tends to a flat FLRW solution. We identify the moduli degrees of freedom that parametrize the flat Lambda-dust FLRW solution and then promote these moduli to slowly varying functions of the spatial coordinates and show how to solve the Einstein equations in a comoving gradient expansion, controlled b…
We propose a scale-dependent cosmology in which the Robertson--Walker metric and the Einstein equation are modified in such a way that $Ω_0$, $H_0$ and the age of the Universe all become scale-dependent. Its implications on the observational cosmology and possible modifications of the standard Friedmann cosmology are discussed. For example, the age of the Universe in this model is longer than that of the standard model.
Specific dark energy models with a linear inhomogeneous time-dependent equation of state, within the framework of 4d Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology, are investigated. It is demonstrated that such 4d inhomogeneous fluid models may lead to a turbulence FRW cosmology. Both one-component and two-component models from 4d inhomogeneous dark fluid models are considered. In the one-component model the universe may develop from a viscous era with, for instance, a constant bulk viscosity, into a turbulent era. In the two-component model the fluid can be decomposed into two components, one non…
In this paper, we investigate $f(T)$ cosmology and find an exact solution for $f$ which gives a Little Rip cosmology. Also, considering accelerating cosmology with dark matter, the time-dependent solution is found. For these cases, by using solutions obtained from $f(T)$ gravity we find expressions for $ω$ and $Λ$ defined as time functions via equivalent description in terms of inhomogeneous fluid. This puts the question: which theoretical model describes the observational cosmology?
We study an exact swiss-cheese model of the Universe, where inhomogeneous LTB patches are embedded in a flat FLRW background, in order to see how observations of distant sources are affected. We find negligible integrated effect, suppressed by (L/R_{H})^3 (where L is the size of one patch, and R_{H} is the Hubble radius), both perturbatively and non-perturbatively. We disentangle this effect from the Doppler term (which is much larger and has been used recently \cite{BMN} to try to fit the SN curve without dark energy) by making contact with cosmological perturbation theory.
We study how the initial inhomogeneities of the universe affect the onset of inflation in the closed universe. We consider the model of a chaotic inflation which is driven by a massive scalar field. In order to construct an inhomogeneous universe model, we use the long wavelength approximation ( the gradient expansion method ). We show the condition of the inhomogeneities for the universe to enter the inflationary phase.
In the framework of multidimensional $f(R)$ gravity, we study the metrics of compact extra dimensions assuming that our 4D space has the de Sitter metric. Manifolds described by such metrics could be formed at the inflationary and even higher energy scales. It is shown that in the presence of a scalar field, varying in the extra factor space $\mathbb{M}_2$, it is possible to obtain a variety of inhomogeneous metrics in $\mathbb{M}_2$. Each of these metrics leads to a certain value of the 4D cosmological constant $Λ_4$, and in particular, it is possible to obtain $Λ_4 =0$, as is confirmed by nu…
We analyze the existence of inflationary solutions in an inhomogeneous Kaluza-Klein cosmological model in 4+n dimensions. It is shown that the 5-dimensional case is the exception rather than the rule, in the sense that the system is integrable (under the assumption of the equation of state $ρ= kp$) for any value of k. It is also shown that the cases k=0 and k=1/3 are integrable if and only if n=1.
Purely time dependent solutions in four-dimensional Einstein-Cartan-Kalb-Ramond (ECKR) theory of gravity are shown not to be possible leading to a trivial vanishing of all Kalb-Ramond fields. This result seems to contradict previously results obtained by SenGupta et al. (Class. and Quantum Gravity 19(2002)677) where de Sitter spacetime solution is found as an example of opticaly active spacetime. It seems that only inhomogeneous KR fields are possible in four-dimensional torsioned spacetimes.
We obtain a scaling relation for spherically symmetric k-essence scalar fields $ϕ(r,t)$ for an inhomogeneous cosmology with the Lemaitre-Tolman- Bondi (LTB) metric. We show that this scaling relation reduces to the known relation for a homogeneous cosmology when the LTB metric reduces to the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric under certain identifications of the metric functions. A k-essence lagrangian is set up and the Euler-Lagrangian equations solved assuming $ϕ(r,t)=ϕ_{1}(r) + ϕ_{2}(t)$. The solutions enable the LBT metric functions to be related to the fields. The LTB inhom…
We present exact non-singular bounce solutions of general relativity in the presence of a positive cosmological constant and an electromagnetic field, without any exotic matter. The solutions are distinguished by being spatially inhomogeneous in one direction, while they can also contain non-trivial electromagnetic field lines. The inhomogeneity may be substantial, for instance, there can be one bounce in one region of the universe and two bounces elsewhere. Since the bounces are followed by a phase of accelerated expansion, the metrics described here also permit the study of (geodesically com…
We present a general algorithm which permits to construct solutions in string cosmology for heterotic and type-IIB superstrings in four dimensions. Using a chain of transformations applied in sequence: conformal, T-duality and SL(2,R) rotations, along with the usual generating techniques associated to Geroch transformations in Einstein frame, we obtain solutions with all relevant low-energy remnants of the string theory. To exemplify our algorithm we present an inhomogeneous string cosmology with S^3 topology of spatial sections, discuss some properties of the solution and point out some subtl…
Cosmology with non-perturbative quantum corrections resulting from torsion is considered. It is shown that the evolution of closed, open and flat Universes is changed because of the presence of a non-zero dispersion of quantum torsion. The evolution of a Universe with quantum torsion and with one type of average curvature can be similar to the evolution of a Universe without quantum torsion and with another type of average curvature. For the description of the non-perturbative quantum torsion, a vector field approximation is applied.
Vacuum energy remains the simplest model of dark energy which could drive the accelerated expansion of the Universe without necessarily introducing any new degrees of freedom. Inhomogeneous vacuum energy is necessarily interacting in general relativity. Although the four-velocity of vacuum energy is undefined, an interacting vacuum has an energy transfer and the vacuum energy defines a particular foliation of spacetime with spatially homogeneous vacuum energy in cosmological solutions. It is possible to give a consistent description of vacuum dynamics and in particular the relativistic equatio…
Interest in cosmological singularities has remarkably grown in recent times, particularly on future singularities with the discovery of late-time acceleration of the universe and dark energy. While such explorations have previously been done in various modified gravity and quantum gravitationally inspired cosmologies (besides standard general relativistic cosmology), no such an endeavour has been taken up till now in the realms of renormalization group approaches to cosmology and we have hence took up on this journey. In this work, we consider the formation of cosmological singularities in an …
One possibility for explaining the apparent accelerating expansion of the universe is that we live in the center of a spherically inhomogeneous universe. Although current observations cannot fully distinguish $Λ$CDM and these inhomogeneous models, direct measurement of the acceleration of the universe can be a powerful tool in probing them. We have shown that, if $Λ$CDM is the correct model, DECIGO/BBO would be able to detect the positive redshift drift (which is the time evolution of the source redshift $z$) in 3--5 year gravitational wave (GW) observations from neutron-star binaries, which e…
In this talk we show a stiff fluid solution of the Einstein equations for a cylindrically symmetric spacetime. The main features of this metric are that it is non-separable in comoving coordinates for the congruence of the worldlineS of the fluid and that it yields regular curvature invariants.
An alternative to the postulate of dark energy required to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe is to adopt an inhomogeneous cosmological model to explain the supernovae data without dark energy. We adopt a void cosmology model, based on the inhomogeneous Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi solution of Einstein's field equations. The model can resolve observational anomalies in the $ΛCDM$ model, such as the discrepancy between the locally measured value of the Hubble constant, $H_0=73.24\pm 1.74\,{\rm km}\,{\rm s}^{-1}\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$, and the $H_0=66.93\pm 0.62\,{\rm km}\,{\rm s}^{-1}\,{\rm M…
Assuming homogeneous isotropic Lambda-CDM cosmology allows Lambda, spatial curvature and dark matter density to be inferred from large scale structure observations such as supernovae. The purpose of this paper is to extend this to allow observations to measure or constrain inhomogeneity and anisotropy. We obtain the general inhomogeneous anisotropic Lambda-CDM solution which is locally asymptotic to an expanding de Sitter solution as a late time expansion using Starobinsky's method (analogous to the `holographic renormalization' technique in AdS/CFT) together with a resummation of the series. …
We investigate the existence of inhomogeneous Szekeres spacetimes in Einstein-æther theory. We show that inhomogeneous solutions which can be seen as extension of the Szekeres solutions existing in Einstein-æther gravity only for a specific relation between the dimensionless coefficients which defines the coupling between the æther filed with gravity. The two Szekeres classes of solutions are derived. Also a class of inhomogeneous FLRW-like spacetimes is allowed by the theory for arbitrary values of the dimensionless coefficients of the æther field. The stability of the solutions obtained is p…
We introduce a generalization of the 4-dimensional averaging window function of Gasperini, Marozzi and Veneziano (2010) that may prove useful for a number of applications. The covariant nature of spatial scalar averaging schemes to address the averaging problem in relativistic cosmology is an important property that is implied by construction, but usually remains implicit. We employ here the approach of Gasperini et al. for two reasons. First, the formalism and its generalization presented here are manifestly covariant. Second, the formalism is convenient for disentangling the dependencies on …
Explorations of the violation of null energy condition (NEC) in cosmology could enrich our understanding of the very early universe and the related gravity theories. Although a fully stable NEC violation can be realized in the ``beyond Horndeski'' theory, it remains an open question whether a violation of the NEC is allowed by some fundamental properties of UV-complete theories or the consistency requirements of effective field theory (EFT). We investigate the tree-level perturbative unitarity for stable NEC violations in the contexts of both Galileon and ``beyond Horndeski'' genesis cosmology…
We present a special case of the Stephani solution with spherical symmetry while considering different values of spatial curvature. We investigate the dynamics of the universe evolution in our model, build the R--T-regions for the resulting spacetime and analyze the behavior of the deceleration parameter. The singularities of the model are also discussed. The geometry of the spatial part of the obtained solution is explored.
Most of current cosmological theories are built combining an isotropic and homogeneous manifold with a scale factor that depends on time. If one supposes a hyperconical universe with linear expansion, an inhomogeneous metric can be obtained by an appropriate transformation that preserves the proper time. This model locally tends to a flat Friedman-Robertson-Walker metric with linear expansion. The objective of this work is to analyse the observational compatibility of the inhomogeneous metric considered. For this purpose, the corresponding luminosity distance was obtained and was compared with…
The current cosmological model ($Λ$CDM) with the underlying FLRW metric relies on the assumption of local isotropy, hence homogeneity of the Universe. Difficulties arise when one attempts to justify this model as an average description of the Universe from first principles of general relativity, since in general, the Einstein tensor built from the averaged metric is not equal to the averaged stress--energy tensor. In this context, the discrepancy between these quantities is called "cosmological backreaction" and has been the subject of scientific debate among cosmologists and relativists for m…
For the Szekeres system which describes inhomogeneous and anisotropic spacetimes we make use of a point-like Lagrangian, which describes the evolution of the physical variables of the Szekeres model, in order to perform a canonical quantization and to study the quantum potentiality of the Szekeres system in the content of de Broglie--Bohm theory. We revise previous results on the subject and we find that for a specific family of trajectories with initial conditions which satisfy a constraint equation, there exists additional conservation laws for the classical Szekeres system which are used to…
The plane-symmetric inhomogeneous cosmological models of perfect fluid distribution with electro-magnetic field is obtained in the framework of Lyra's geometry. To get the deterministic solution, I have considered $ A=f(x)ν(t) $, $ B=g(x)μ(t) $ and $ C=h(x)μ(t) $, where A, B and C are metric coefficients. It has been found that the solutions generalize the solution obtained by Pradhan, Yadav and Singh (2007) and are consistent with the recent observations of type Ia supernovae. A detailed study of physical and kinematical properties of the models have been carried out.
We revisit the cosmological dynamics of the cubic Galileon model in light of the recently proposed model-independent analyses of the Pantheon supernova data. At the background level, it is shown to be compatible with data and preferred over standard quintessence models. Furthermore, the model is shown to be consistent with the trans-Planckian censorship conjecture (as well as other Swampland conjectures). It is shown that for the given parametrization, the model fails to satisfy the bounds on the reconstructed growth index derived from the Pantheon data set at the level of linear~perturbations…
If we assume that we live in the center of a spherical inhomogeneous universe, we can explain the apparent accelerating expansion of the universe without introducing the unknown dark energy or modifying gravitational theory. Direct measurement of the cosmic acceleration can be a powerful tool in distinguishing $Λ$CDM and the inhomogeneous models. If $Λ$CDM is the correct model, we have shown that DECIGO/BBO has sufficient ability to detect the positive redshift drift of the source by observing gravitational waves from neutron star binaries for 5-10 years. This enables us to rule out any Lemaît…
The basic concepts and equations of Newtonian Cosmology are presented in the form necessary for the derivation and analysis of the averaged Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations. A particular attention is paid to the physical and cosmological hypotheses about the structure of Newtonian universes. The system of the Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations governing the cosmological dynamics of Newtonian universes is presented and discussed. A reformulation of the Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations in terms of the fluid kinematic quantities is given and the structure of this system of equations is analyzed.
Examples are presented of applications of the Lemaître - Tolman model to problems of astrophysics and gravitation theory. They are: 1. Inferring the spatial distribution of matter by interpretation of observations; 2. Interaction of inhomogeneities in matter distribution with the CMB radiation; 3. Evolution of voids; 4. Singularities; 5. Influence of electromagnetic field on gravitational collapse. This review is meant to demonstrate that the theory is already well-prepared to meet the challenges posed by an inhomogeneous Universe.
The past lightcone of an observer in a cosmological spacetime is the unique geometric structure directly linked to observations. After general properties of the Hawking energy along slices of the past lightcone have previously been studied, the present work continues along this path by providing explicit cosmological applications of the Hawking energy associated with a lightcone. Firstly, it is shown that amongst all two-dimensional non-trapped spheres with equal area and average matter density, a shear-free matter distribution maximizes the Hawking energy for sufficiently high densities. Seco…
In a previous paper (P. D. Mannheim, Phys. Rev. D 102, 123535 (2020)) we studied cosmological perturbation theory in the cosmology associated with the fourth-order derivative conformal gravity theory, and provided an exact solution to the theory in the recombination era. In this paper we present an exact solution that holds all the way from recombination until the current era.
A complete quantization of a homogeneous and isotropic spacetime with closed spatial sections coupled to a massive scalar field is provided, within the framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology. We identify solutions with their initial data on the minimum volume section, and from this we construct the physical Hilbert space. Moreover, a perturbative study allows us to introduce small inhomogeneities. After gauge fixing, the inhomogeneous part of the system is reduced to a linear field theory. We then adopt a standard Fock representation to quantize these degrees of freedom. For the considered case o…
This article looks at how inhomogeneous spacetime models may be significant for cosmology. First it looks at how the averaging process may affect large scale dynamics, with backreaction effects leading to effective contributions to the averaged energy-momentum tensor. Secondly it considers how local inhomogeneities may affect cosmological observations in cosmology, possibly significantly affecting the concordance model parameters. Thirdly it presents the possibility that the universe is spatially inhomogeneous on Hubble scales, with a violation of the Copernican principle leading to an apparen…
Why is the Universe so homogeneous and isotropic? We summarize a general study of a $γ$-law perfect fluid alongside an inhomogeneous, massless scalar gauge field (with homogeneous gradient) in anisotropic spaces with General Relativity. The anisotropic matter sector is implemented as a $j$-form (field-strength level), where $j\,\in\,\{1,3\}$, and the spaces studied are Bianchi space-times of solvable type. Wald's no-hair theorem is extended to include the $j$-form case. We highlight three new self-similar space-times: the Edge, the Rope and Wonderland. The latter solution is so far found to ex…
