Abstract
Structure formation within the Lemaître-Tolman model is investigated in a general manner. We seek models such that the initial density perturbation within a homogeneous background has a smaller mass than the structure into which it will develop, and the perturbation then accretes more mass during evolution. This is a generalization of the approach taken by Bonnor in 1956. It is proved that any two spherically symmetric density profiles specified on any two constant time slices can be joined by a Lemaître-Tolman evolution, and exact implicit formulas for the arbitrary functions that determine the resulting LT model are obtained. Examples of the process are investigated numerically.
- Received 29 June 2001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.65.023501
©2001 American Physical Society