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How the cosmological scale factor $a(t)$ will have maximum value followed by a contracting phase of the universe?

Physics Asked by luv_phy on May 13, 2021

The scale factor satisfies the following equation –
$$frac{dot a^{2}}{a^{2}} + frac{k}{a^{2}} = frac{8pi G}{3} rho(t)$$ where $k$ is constant proportional to total energy of the dynamical system. Now numerical value of $k$ can be absorbed in the definition of $a(t)$ by rescaling it hence $k$ can be treated having one of the three values $(0,pm1)$. From this equation how can we show that cosmological scale factor $a(t)$ will have maximum value followed by a contracting phase to the universe if $k=1$ and $Omega >1$, where $Omega = frac{rho}{rho_{c}}$.

I tried following –
if $k=1$ and $Omega >1$, we get –
$$frac{dot a^{2}}{a^{2}} + frac{1}{a^{2}} = frac{8pi G}{3} rho_{c}cdot(Omega>1) >frac{8pi G}{3} rho_{c}cdotOmega$$
$implies dot a^{2} + 1 > frac{8pi G}{3} rho_{c}cdotOmega cdot a^{2} implies a < bigg[ frac{3(dot a^{2} + 1)}{8pi Grho_{c}cdotOmega}bigg]^frac{1}{2} implies a_{max} = bigg[ frac{3(dot a^{2} + 1)}{8pi Grho_{c}cdotOmega}bigg]^frac{1}{2}$

But, from here how will I prove that this maximum value will be followed by a contracting phase to the universe?

To find the form of $a(t)$ we need to know $Omega(t)$, Could somebody please tell what kind of models are available to determine $Omega(t)$?

Ref: Theoretical Astrophysics, T.Padmanabhan, Vol 3, pg – 4

2 Answers

You don't know $Omega(t)$. How $Omega$ varies with time depends on the specific nature of $Omega$, e.g. $Omega_r propto a^{-4}$, but $Omega_m propto a^{-3}$. A universe with different amounts of radiation and matter will have different behaviors for $Omega(t)$.

However you do know that after this maximum value there will be a contracting phase. That comes from the definition of a maximum point - all nearby points have lower values than the maximum. So both approaching the maximum and going away from it, $a(t)$ must decrease. If it starts increasing again, there must be a minimum, which does not exist (from the differential equation you solved). Hence it keeps decreasing, until the assumptions that went into the calculation break down.

Answered by Allure on May 13, 2021

From: $$ frac{dot a^{2}}{a^{2}} + frac{k}{a^{2}} = frac{8pi G}{3} rho(t) $$ If you set $k=1$ and $Omega = frac{rho}{rho_{c}}$: $$ dot a^{2} + 1 = frac{8pi G}{3} rho_{c}cdotOmega cdot a^{2}. $$ At $a= a_{max}$, the expansion rate is zero $dot{a}=0$, therefore $$ 1 = frac{8pi G}{3} rho_{c}cdotOmega cdot a^{2}_{max}. $$

Now the solution is dependent on how $Omega$ scales with $a$. Let's for example examine a matter only universe, i.e. $Omega = 1/a^3$, therefore: $$ 1 = frac{8pi G}{3} rho_{c}cdot frac{1}{a^3_{max}} cdot a^{2}_{max}. $$ Et voila: $$ a_{max}= frac{8pi G}{3} rho_{c}. $$

how will I prove that this maximum value will be followed by a contracting phase to the universe?

Well if you plug any value of $a > a_{max}$ into the Friedmann equation, you will get an negative value of $dot{a}^2$. Hence we know that $a$ can not exceed $a_{max}$. But you might wonder whether $a$ can stay at $a_{max}$ without contracting? Hint: for the above example you can prove (as a home work for you) $$ ddot{a}|_{a = a_{max}} < 0. $$

Answered by MadMax on May 13, 2021

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