English

Constraining Curvature Parameters via Topology

Astrophysics 2011-05-23 v2

Abstract

If the assumption that physical space has a trivial topology is dropped, then the Universe may be described by a multiply connected Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre model on a sub-horizon scale. Specific candidates for the multiply connected space manifold have already been suggested. How precisely would a significant detection of multiple topological images of a single object, or a region on the cosmic microwave background, (due to photons arriving at the observer by multiple paths which have crossed the Universe in different directions), constrain the values of the curvature parameters Ω0\Omega_0 and λ0\lambda_0? The way that the constraints on Ω0\Omega_0 and λ0\lambda_0 depend on the redshifts of multiple topological images and on their radial and tangential separations is presented and calculated. The tangential separations give the tighter constraints: multiple topological images of known types of astrophysical objects at redshifts z\ltapprox3z \ltapprox 3 would imply values of Ω0\Omega_0 and λ0\lambda_0 preciser than 1\sim 1% and 10\sim 10% respectively. Cosmic microwave background `spots' identified with lower redshift objects by the Planck or MAP satellites would provide similar precision. This method is purely geometrical: no dynamical assumptions (such as the virial theorem) are required and the constraints are independent of the Hubble constant, H0.H_0.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9903453,
  title  = {Constraining Curvature Parameters via Topology},
  author = {Boudewijn F. Roukema and Jean-Pierre Luminet},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9903453},
  year   = {2011}
}

Comments

10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for Astronomy & Astrophysics; revised version - quantum epoch topology evolution reference added

R2 v1 2026-07-22T09:47:18.336Z