Asymptotic isotropization in inhomogeneous cosmology

Woei Chet Lim, Henk van Elst, Claes Uggla, and John Wainwright
Phys. Rev. D 69, 103507 – Published 13 May 2004
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Abstract

In this paper we investigate asymptotic isotropization. We derive the asymptotic dynamics of spatially inhomogeneous cosmological models with a perfect fluid matter source and a positive cosmological constant near the de Sitter equilibrium state at late times, and near the flat FL equilibrium state at early times. Our results show that there exists an open set of solutions approaching the de Sitter state at late times, consistent with the cosmic no-hair conjecture. On the other hand, solutions that approach the flat FL state at early times are special and admit a so-called isotropic initial singularity. For both classes of models the asymptotic expansion of the line element contains an arbitrary spatial metric at leading order, indicating asymptotic spatial inhomogeneity. We show, however, that in the asymptotic regimes this spatial inhomogeneity is significant only at superhorizon scales.

  • Received 30 September 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.69.103507

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Woei Chet Lim1,*, Henk van Elst2,†, Claes Uggla3,‡, and John Wainwright1,§

  • 1Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
  • 2Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
  • 3Department of Physics, University of Karlstad, S-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden

  • *Electronic address: wclim@math.uwaterloo.ca
  • Electronic address: H.van.Elst@qmul.ac.uk
  • Electronic address: Claes.Uggla@kau.se
  • §Electronic address: jwainwri@math.uwaterloo.ca

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Issue

Vol. 69, Iss. 10 — 15 May 2004

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