Paper 2, Section I, B
Part II, 2018
(a) Consider a homogeneous and isotropic universe with a uniform distribution of galaxies. For three galaxies at positions , show that spatial homogeneity implies that their non-relativistic velocities must satisfy
and hence that the velocity field coordinates are linearly related to the position coordinates via
where the matrix coefficients are independent of the position. Show why isotropy then implies Hubble's law
Explain how the velocity of a galaxy is determined by the scale factor and express the Hubble parameter today in terms of .
(b) Define the cosmological horizon . For an Einstein-de Sitter universe with , calculate at today in terms of . Briefly describe the horizon problem of the standard cosmology.