English

Light propagation in statistically homogeneous and isotropic universes with general matter content

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics 2012-12-19 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

We derive the relationship of the redshift and the angular diameter distance to the average expansion rate for universes which are statistically homogeneous and isotropic and where the distribution evolves slowly, but which have otherwise arbitrary geometry and matter content. The relevant average expansion rate is selected by the observable redshift and the assumed symmetry properties of the spacetime. We show why light deflection and shear remain small. We write down the evolution equations for the average expansion rate and discuss the validity of the dust approximation.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0912.3370,
  title  = {Light propagation in statistically homogeneous and isotropic universes with general matter content},
  author = {Syksy Rasanen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0912.3370},
  year   = {2012}
}

Comments

42 pages, no figures. v2: Corrected one detail about the angular diameter distance and two typos. No change in results