Einstein's theory of gravity has been extensively tested on solar system scales, and for isolated astrophysical systems, using the perturbative framework known as the parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism. This framework is designed for use in the weak-field and slow-motion limit of gravity, and can be used to constrain a large class of metric theories of gravity with data collected from the aforementioned systems. Given the potential of future surveys to probe cosmological scales to high precision, it is a topic of much contemporary interest to construct a similar framework to link Einstein's theory of gravity and its alternatives to observations on cosmological scales. Our approach to this problem is to adapt and extend the existing PPN formalism for use in cosmology. We derive a set of equations that use the same parameters to consistently model both weak fields and cosmology. This allows us to parameterize a large class of modified theories of gravity and dark energy models on cosmological scales, using just four functions of time. These four functions can be directly linked to the background expansion of the universe, first-order cosmological perturbations, and the weak-field limit of the theory. They also reduce to the standard PPN parameters on solar system scales. We illustrate how dark energy models and scalar-tensor and vector-tensor theories of gravity fit into this framework, which we refer to as "parameterized post-Newtonian cosmology" (PPNC).
We discuss in detail the weak field limit of f(R,G) gravity taking into account analytic functions of the Ricci scalar R and the Gauss-Bonnet invariant G. Specifically, we develop, in metric formalism, the Newtonian, Post Newtonian and Parameterized Post Newtonian limits starting from general f(R, G) Lagrangian. The special cases of f(R) and f(G) gravities are considered. In the case of the Newtonian limit of f(R, G) gravity, a general solution in terms of Green's functions is achieved.
Numerical N-body simulations of large scale structure formation in the universe are based on Newtonian gravity. However, according to our current understanding, the most correct theory of gravity is general relativity. It is therefore important to understand which degrees of freedom and which features are lost when the relativistic universe is approximated, or rather replaced, by a Newtonian one. This is the main purpose of our investigation. We first define Newtonian cosmology and we give an overview on general relativity, both in its standard and covariant formulations. We show how the two t…
Cosmology is a field of physics in which the use of General Relativity theory is indispensable. However, a cosmology based on Newtonian gravity theory for gravity is possible in certain circumstances. The applicability of Newtonian theory can be substantially extended if it is modified in such way that pressure has a more active role as source of the gravitational field. This was done in the neo-Newtonian cosmology. The limitation on the construction of a Newtonian cosmology, and the need for a relativistic theory in cosmology are reviewed. The neo-Newtonian proposal is presented, and its cons…
We present a simple argument to explain why the field equations of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric are equivalent to those of Newtonian cosmology. By passing to the infinite limit of a family of conformally rescaled FRW metrics in suitable coordinates, we reveal Newtonian space and time. The limiting process preserves the Einstein equations and these may be elucidated directly from the Newtonian limit up to the determination of the scalar curvature parameter. Consideration of the conformally invariant scalar field equation on the FRW spacetime is used to recover the Einstein equations ef…
It has been argued that the effect of cosmological structure formation on the average expansion rate is negligible, because the linear approximation to the metric remains applicable in the regime of non-linear density perturbations. We discuss why the arguments based on the linear theory are not valid. We emphasise the difference between Newtonian gravity and the weak field, small velocity limit of general relativity in the cosmological setting.
We study the parameterized post-Newtonian approximation in teleparallel model of gravity with a scalar field. The scalar field is non-minimally coupled to the scalar torsion as well as to the boundary term introduced in [1]. We show that, in contrast to the case where the scalar field is only coupled to the scalar torsion, the presence of the new coupling affects the parameterized post-Newtonian parameters. These parameters for different situations are obtained and discussed.
We present a recent result on the parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) limit of Horndeski's gravity theory and its consistency with solar system observations.
We explore some of the cosmological implications of the recent classical nonlocal generalization of Einstein's theory of gravitation in which nonlocality is due to the gravitational memory of past events. In the Newtonian regime of this theory, the nonlocal character of gravity simulates dark matter in spiral galaxies and clusters of galaxies. However, dark matter is considered indispensable as well for structure formation in standard models of cosmology. Can nonlocal gravity solve the problem of structure formation without recourse to dark matter? Here we make a beginning in this direction by…
In a previous paper [arXiv:1308.1852] we showed how a finite system of discrete particles interacting with each other via Newtonian gravitational attraction would lead to precisely the same dynamical equations for homothetic motion as in the case of the pressure-free Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker cosmological models of General Relativity Theory, provided the distribution of particles obeys the central configuration equation. In this paper we show one can obtain perturbed such Newtonian solutions that give the same linearised structure growth equations as in the general relativity case. W…
Recently, an extension to the Parameterized Post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism has been proposed. This formalism, the Parameterized Post-Newtonian-Vainshteinian (PPNV) formalism, is well suited to theories which exhibit Vainshtein screening of scalar fields. In this paper we apply the PPNV formalism to the Quartic and Quintic Galileon theories for the first time. As simple generalizations of standard scalar-tensor field theories they are important guides for the generalization of parameterized approaches to the effects of gravity beyond General Relativity. In the Quartic case, we find new PPNV pot…
It is well known that, for pressureless matter, Newtonian and relativistic cosmologies are equivalent. We show that this equivalence breaks down in the quantum level. In addition, we find some cases for which quantum Newtonian cosmology can be related to quantum cosmology in (2+1) dimensions. Two exact solutions for the wave function of the Newtonian universe are also obtained.
In a previous paper we derived a post-Newtonian approximation to cosmology which, in contrast to former Newtonian and post-Newtonian cosmological theories, has a well-posed initial value problem. In this paper, this new post-Newtonian theory is compared with the fully general relativistic theory, in the context of the k = 0 Friedmann Robertson Walker cosmologies. It is found that the post-Newtonian theory reproduces the results of its general relativistic counterpart, whilst the Newtonian theory does not.
We assume cold dark matter to possess a small bulk-viscous pressure which typically attenuates the growth of inhomogeneities. Explicit calculations, based on Eckart's theory of dissipative processes, reveal that for viscous cold dark matter the usual Newtonian approximation for perturbation scales smaller than the Hubble scale is no longer valid. We advocate the use of a neo-Newtonian approach which consistently incorporates pressure effects into the fluid dynamics and correctly reproduces the general relativistic dynamics. This result is of interest for numerical simulations of nonlinear stru…
We derive a theory-independent version of the momentum constraint equation for use in cosmology, as a part of the Parameterised Post-Newtonian Cosmology (PPNC) framework. Our equations are constructed by adapting the corresponding quantities from formalisms devised for testing and constraining gravity in isolated astrophysical systems, thereby extending the domain of applicability of these approaches up to cosmological scales. Our parameterised equations include both scalar and divergenceless-vector gravitational potentials, and can be applied to both conservative and non-conservative theories…
Newtonian Cosmology is commonly used in astrophysical problems, because of its obvious simplicity when compared with general relativity. However it has inherent difficulties, the most obvious of which is the non-existence of a well-posed initial value problem. In this paper we investigate how far these problems are met by using the post-Newtonian approximation in cosmology.
We formulate and solve the problem of Newtonian cosmology under the assumption that the absolute space of Newton is non-Euclidean. In particular, we focus on the negatively-curved hyperbolic space, H3. We point out the inequivalence between the curvature term that arises in the Friedmann equation in Newtonian cosmology in Euclidean space and the role of curvature in the H3 space. We find the generalisation of the inverse-square law and the solutions of the Newtonian cosmology that follow from it. We find the generalisations of the Euclidean Michell 'black hole' in H3 and show that it leads to …
We discuss the post-Newtonian limit of multimetric gravity theories with $N \geq 2$ metric tensors and a corresponding number of standard model copies, and construct an extension of the parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism. This extended formalism allows a characterization of multimetric gravity theories by a set of constant parameters. The multimetric PPN parameters we derive are a superset of the standard PPN parameters, which have been measured using high-precision experiments in the solar system. We apply our formalism to a class of theories which we previously discussed in the con…
We parameterize the second post-Newtonian (2PN) metric for a gravitating system of fluids in the generalized harmonic gauge, and find that there are only three independent 2PN parameters (i.e. $ω$, $δ$ and $δ_2$) for satisfying some conservation laws including the conservations of energy, momentum, angular-momentum and the uniform motion of the center-of-mass.
The post-Newtonian (PN) perturbative framework has been successful in understanding the slow-motion, weak field limit of Einstein's theory of gravity on solar system scales, and for isolated astrophysical systems. The parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism extended the PN framework to put very tight constraints on deviations from Einstein's theory on the aforementioned scales and systems. In this work, we extended and applied the post-Newtonian formalism to cosmological scales. We first used it to construct a cosmological model to understand the effect of regularly arranged point sources…
A Newtonian uniform ball expanding in empty space constitutes a common heuristic analogy for FLRW cosmology. We discuss possible implementations of the corresponding general-relativistic problem and a variety of new cosmological analogies arising from them. We highlight essential ingredients of the Newtonian analogy, including that the quasilocal energy is always `Newtonian' in the sense that the magnetic part of the Weyl tensor does not contribute to it. A symmetry of the Einstein-Friedmann equations produces another one in the original Newtonian system.
We derive the post-Newtonian limit of a general class of teleparallel gravity theories, whose action is given by a free function of three scalar quantities obtained from the torsion of the teleparallel connection. This class of theories is chosen to be sufficiently generic in order to include the $f(T)$ class of theories as well as new general relativity as subclasses. To derive its post-Newtonian limit, we first impose the Weitzenböck gauge, and then introduce a post-Newtonian approximation of the tetrad field around a Minkowski background solution. Our results show that the class of theories…
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.
We consider the homothetic motion group. We construct a homothetic covariant Newtonian gravitation theory which unifies inertial homothetic forces and gravitational fields. This is achieved through an equivalence principle based on a local homothetic frame of motion. As a consequence, we can obtain a coherent Newtonian cosmology which admits a cosmological principle and leads to the Friedman equations for a dust universe. Finally we prove that this gravity theory can be obtained as the non-relativistic limit of a class of metrics in General Relativity. The Friedmann-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker…
A generalization of Bekenstein's Tensor-Vector-Scalar (TeVeS) model of modified gravity has recently been proposed as an alternative to dark matter. This model -- which we will refer to as g-TeVeS -- utilizes a Galileon-induced Vainshtein mechanism to suppress modifications to General Relativity in strong gravity regimes and so avoids the need to introduce the baroque kinetic terms that typically exist in relativistic models of Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND). We explore the behavior of this model in spacetimes with exact Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) symmetry. The ability of the theory …
We formulate the Lagrangian of the Newtonian cosmology where the cosmological constant is also introduced. Following the affine quantization procedure, the Hamiltonian operator is derived. The wave functions of the Newtonian universe and the corresponding eigenvalues for the case of matter dominated by a negative cosmological constant are given.
We discuss various analytical approximation methods for the evolution of the density fluctuation in the Universe. From primordial density fluctuation, the large-scale structure is formed via its own self-gravitational instability. For this dynamical evolution, several approaches have been considered. In Newtonian cosmology, in which matter motion is described by Newtonian dynamics with cosmic expansion, Lagrangian description for the cosmic fluid is known to work rather well for quasi-nonlinear clustering regime. In this paper, we briefly review Lagrangian perturbation theory in Newtonian cosm…
Bootstrapped Newtonian gravity was developed with the purpose of estimating the impact of quantum physics in the nonlinear regime of the gravitational interaction, akin to corpuscular models of black holes and inflation. In this work, we set the ground for extending the bootstrapped Newtonian picture to cosmological spaces. We further discuss how such models of quantum cosmology can lead to a natural solution of the cosmological constant problem.
We revisit the analysis made by Hwang and Noh [JCAP 1310 (2013)] aiming the construction of a Newtonian set of equations incorporating pressure effects typical of the General Relativity theory. We explicitly derive the Hwang-Noh equations, comparing them with similar computations found in the literature. Then, we investigate $i)$ the cosmological expansion, $ii)$ linear cosmological perturbations theory and $iii)$ stellar equilibrium by using the new set of equations and comparing the results with those coming from the usual Newtonian theory, from the Neo-Newtonian theory and from the General …
The relativistic generalization of the Newtonian Lagrangian perturbation theory is investigated. In previous works, the first-order trace solutions that are generated by the spatially projected gravitoelectric part of the Weyl tensor were given together with extensions and applications for accessing the nonperturbative regime. We furnish here construction rules to obtain from Newtonian solutions the gravitoelectric class of relativistic solutions, for which we give the complete perturbation and solution schemes at any order of the perturbations. By construction, these schemes generalize the co…
It has been known for some time that the cosmological Friedmann equation deduced from General Relativity can be also obtained within the Newtonian framework under certain assumptions. We use this result together with quantum corrections to the Newtonian potentials to derive a set a of quantum corrected Friedmann equations. We examine the behavior of the solutions of these modified cosmological equations paying special attention to the sign of the quantum corrections. We find different quantum effects crucially depending on this sign. One such a solution displays a qualitative resemblance to ot…
A Newtonian matrix cosmology, correspoding to the BFSS model of eleven-dimensional M-theory in the IMF as a (0+1) M(atrix) model is constructed. Interesting new results are obtained, such as the existence of (much sought for in the past) static solutions. The possible interpretation of the off-diagonal entries as a background geometry is also briefly discussed.
We discuss the parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) limit of Horndeski's theory of gravity, also known under the name generalized G-inflation or $\text{G}^2$-inflation, which is the most general scalar-tensor theory of gravity with at most second order field equations in four dimensions. We derive conditions on the action for the validity of the post-Newtonian limit. For the most general class of theories consistent with these conditions we calculate the PPN parameters $γ(r)$ and $β(r)$, which in general depend on the interaction distance $r$ between the gravitating mass and the test mass. For a…
We study the Newtonian cosmology taking into account the leading classical and quantum corrections of order $\mathcal{O}(G^{2})$ in the Newtonian potential. We first derive the modified Friedmann equations starting from the non-relativistic conservation of kinetic energy and potential energy for an infinitesimal mass. We then consider the leading classical correction term and the quantum correction term in the Newtonian potential for deriving the Friedmann equation, however, the quantum correction term is too small and hence does not contribute in the physical results. We then investigate the …
The metric of an FRW universe filled with pressureless dust is shown to agree, close to any spacetime point, with a curved Newtonian-type metric where Einstein's equations simplify to those of Newtonian gravity. The agreement is shown to quadratic order in the local coordinates, so the curvatures agree. This result is established by expressing both metrics in Riemann normal form. This approach gives a local Newtonian understanding of cosmology that avoids the paradoxes of global Newtonian cosmology.
We present calculations of Post-Newtonian parameters for Brans-Dicke tensor-scalar gravity in an arbitrary number of compact extra dimensions in both the Jordan and Einstein conformal frames. We find that the parameter gamma, which measures the amount of spacetime curvature per unit mass, becomes a function of omega, the coefficient of the scalar kinetic term in the Brans-Dicke Lagrangian. Experiment has placed strong constraints on gamma which require that omega become negative in the Jordan frame for any number of extra dimensions, highlighting that this formulation is not physical. We also …
Applying the recently developed dynamical perturbation formalism on cosmological background to scalar-tensor theory, we provide a solid theoretical basis and a rigorous justification for phenomenological models of orbital dynamics that are currently used to interpret experimental measurements of the time-dependent gravitational constant. We derive the field equations for the scalar-tensor perturbations and study their gauge freedom associated with the cosmological expansion. We find a new gauge eliminating a prohibitive number of gauge modes in the field equations and significantly simplifying…
A modified form of non-locally corrected theory of gravity is investigated in the context of cosmology and the Newtonian limit. This form of non-local correction to classic Einstein-Hilbert action can be locally represented by a triple-scalar-tensor theory in which one of the scalar degree of freedom is phantom-like and the other two are quintessence-like. We show that there exists a stable de Sitter solution for the cosmological dynamics if a suitable form of potential function $V(ϕ)$ (or equivalently, $f(R)$) is selected. However, no matter what a potential function is selected, there is alw…
We consider the Vlasov-Poisson system in a cosmological setting and prove nonlinear stability of homogeneous solutions against small, spatially periodic perturbations in the sup-norm of the spatial mass density. This result is connected with the question of how large scale structures such as galaxies have evolved out of the homogeneous state of the early universe.
On small scales the observable Universe is highly inhomogeneous, with galaxies and clusters forming a complex web of voids and filaments. The optical properties of such configurations can be quite different from the perfectly smooth Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) solutions that are frequently used in cosmology, and must be well understood if we are to make precise inferences about fundamental physics from cosmological observations. We investigate this problem by calculating redshifts and luminosity distances within a class of cosmological models that are constructed explicitly in o…
As is well known, some aspects of General Relativity and Cosmology can be reproduced without even using Einstein's equation. As an illustration, the 0 - 0 component of the Schwarzschild space can be obtained by the requirement that the geodesic of slowly mov- ing particles match the Newtonian equation. Given this result, we shall show here that the remaining component (grr) can be obtained by requiring that the inside of a Newtonian ball of dust matched at a free falling radius with the external space of unspecified type. This matching determines the external space to be of Schwarzschild type.…
We obtain the exact solution of the Schrödinger equation for a particle (galaxy) moving in a Newtonian universe with a cosmological constant, which is given in terms of the biconfluent Heun functions. The first six Heun polynomials of the biconfluent function are written explicitly. The energy spectrum which resembles the one corresponding to the isotropic harmonic oscillator is also obtained. The wave functions as well as the energy levels codify the role played by the cosmological constant.
It is well known that couplings occur among the scalar-, vector-, and tensor-type perturbations of Friedmann world model in the second perturbational order. Here, we prove that, except for the gravitational wave contribution, the relativistic zero-pressure irrotational fluid perturbed to second order in a flat Friedmann background coincides exactly with the Newtonian result. Since we include the cosmological constant, our results are relevant to currently favoured cosmology. As we prove that the Newtonian hydrodynamic equations are valid in all cosmological scales to the second order, our resu…
In this paper we lay down the foundations for a purely Newtonian theory of cosmology, valid at scales small compared with the Hubble radius, using only Newtonian point particles acted on by gravity and a possible cosmological term. We describe the cosmological background which is given by an exact solution of the equations of motion in which the particles expand homothetically with their comoving positions constituting a central configuration. We point out, using previous work, that an important class of central configurations are homogeneous and isotropic, thus justifying the usual assumption…
A new symmetry for Newtonian Dynamics is analyzed, this corresponds to going to an accelerated frame, which introduces a constant gravitational field into the system and subsequently. We consider the addition of a linear contribution to the gravitational potential \(ϕ\) which can be used to cancel the gravitational field induced by going to the accelerated from, the combination of these two operations produces then a symmetry. This symmetry leads then to a Noether current which is conserved. The conserved charges are analyzed in special cases. The charges may not be conserved if the Noether cu…
We investigate a possibility of realizing the entropic force into the cosmology. A main issue is how the holographic screen is implemented in the Newtonian cosmology. Contrary to the relativistic realization of Friedmann equations, we do not clarify the connection between Newtonian cosmology and entropic force because there is no way of implementing the holographic screen in the Newtonian cosmology.
We obtain the wave functions associated to the quantum Newtonian universe with a cosmological constant which is described by the Schrödinger equation and discuss some aspects of its dynamics for all forms of energy density, namely, matter, radiation, vacuum, dark energy, and quintessence. These wave functions of the quantum Newtonian universe are obtained in terms of the Heun's functions and the respective energy levels are shown. We use these solutions to investigate the expansion of the universe and found that the asymptotic behavior for the scale factor is $R \sim \mbox{e}^{t}$ for whatever…
We study the consequences of the $f(R/\Box)$ gravity models for the Solar system and the large scale structure of the universe. The spherically symmetric solutions can be used to obtain bounds on the constant and the linear parts of the correction terms. The evolution of cosmological matter structures is shown to be governed by an effective time dependent Newton's constant. We also analyze the propagation of the perturbation modes. Tensor and vector modes are only slightly modified, but two new scalar degrees of freedom are present. Their causality and stability is demonstrated, and their form…
We investigate cosmological dynamics based on $f(R)$ gravity in the Palatini formulation. In this study we use the dynamical system methods. We show that the evolution of the Friedmann equation reduces to the form of the piece-wise smooth dynamical system. This system is is reduced to a 2D dynamical system of the Newtonian type. We demonstrate how the trajectories can be sewn to guarantee $C^0$ extendibility of the metric similarly as `Milne-like' FLRW spacetimes are $C^0$-extendible. We point out that importance of dynamical system of Newtonian type with non-smooth right-hand sides in the con…
We present a framework for general relativistic N-body simulations in the regime of weak gravitational fields. In this approach, Einstein's equations are expanded in terms of metric perturbations about a Friedmann-Lemaître background, which are assumed to remain small. The metric perturbations themselves are only kept to linear order, but we keep their first spatial derivatives to second order and treat their second spatial derivatives as well as sources of stress-energy fully non-perturbatively. The evolution of matter is modelled by an N-body ensemble which can consist of free-streaming nonr…
