(3(72km/s/M P c))

z = (1 + (10GY r))2/3 − 1
(2)
z = (1 + 2.04)2/3 − 1
z = (3.04)2/3 − 1
z = 2.1 − 1
z = 1.1
All done! Next exercise :-)
This is an alternative (partial) solution from an earlier year’s handout/file
1 3 3/2
H0 t = ( a )−C
a0 2
1 3 3/2
H0 t = 3/2
a +0
a0 2

1 3a3/2
H0 t = +0
1 2a3/2
0

3a3/2
H0 t = 3/2
+0
2a0

2H0 t a3/2
= 3/2
3 a0
2H0 t 2/3 a
( ) =
3 a0
Have memorized the behavior of redshift z as:
a(tobs )
z+1=
a(temit )
Combine these two equations (for 0 → emit, and for observe)

a(tobs ) a ( 2H0 t )2/3

z+1= = = 2H3 t
a(temit ) a0 ( 30 0 )2/3

( 2H30 t )2/3
z+1=
( 2H30 t0 )2/3

(t)2/3
z+1=
(t0 )2/3
(t) 2/3
z+1=( )
(t0 )
(t) 2/3
z=( ) −1
(t0 )
(t0 + ∆t) 2/3
z=( ) −1
(t0 )
(∆t) 2/3
z = (1 + ) −1
(t0 )
WHY DOES 1/t0 = 3H0 /2??? ??? ???
(3H0 )
z = (1 + ∆t)2/3 − 1
(2)
Plug in values
(3(72km/s/M P c))
z = (1 + (10GY r))2/3 − 1
(2)
z = 1.1

53
7.2 2.) (Problem 18.5 in Hartle)
Prompt: The cosmic microwave background radiation has been propagating to us since
the universe became transparent at a temperature of approximately 3000 K. Its temper-
ature today is 2.73 K. What is the red-shift, z of the radiation?
Solution:
Memorize and begin with the definition of redshift,

a(tobs )
z= −1
a(temit )

Have memorized the relationship

1
T ∝
a
As an aside, this comes (unintuitively) from:

ρrad ∝ a−4

ρrad ∝ T −4
This means between obs and emit a and T are inverse substitutions:
1
Tobs
z= 1 −1
Temit

Temit
z= −1
Tobs
Plug in values
3000K
z= −1
2.73K
z = 1099 − 1
z = 1098

7.3 3.) (Problem 18.6 in Hartle)

Prompt: A type Ia supernova has a red-shift, z = 1.1. The observed brightness rises and
falls on a timescale of two months. (More precisely let’s say the difference in times between
when the supernova is at half peak brightness is two months). What is the timescale for
the rise and fall in the supernova’s rest frame as would be seen by a hypothetical observer
close to the supernova and at rest with respect to it?
Solution: Start with the cosmology metric and derive the red-shift

ds2 = −dt2 + a(t)2 dx2

The phenomena in light (and null geodesics), so,

0 = −dt2 + a(t)2 dx2

Isolate distance traveled,

dt2 = a(t)2 dx2

54
 dt2
dx2 =
a(t)2
dt
dx =
a(t)
Z Z
dt
D=R= dx =
a(t)
This is true for any times/distances in an inertial frame, which makes for different inte-
gration limits:
Z Z to Z to +∆to Z te +∆te
dt dt dt
D = R = dx = = =
te a(t) te +∆te a(t) te a(t)

(This came from calculating a new integral that is slightly (right) shifted from an original
integral: new = old - left + right)
Z te +∆te Z to +∆to
dt dt
=
te a(t) te a(t)

If ∆t is small, than the ratio (and rectangular integral area) between dt/a1 and dt/a2 will
be constant, so:
How do ”small ∆te and ∆to ” lead to integral removal?:

∆te ∆to
=
a(te ) a(to )

Isolate ∆te
∆to
∆te = a(te )
a(to )
a(te )
∆te = ∆to
a(to )
1
∆te = ∆to ( )
z+1
Plug in values
1
∆te = (2 months)( )
(1.1) + 1
1
∆te = (2 months)( )
2.1
∆te = 0.95 months

7.4 4.) (Problem 18.8 in Hartle)

Prompt: In Section 9.2 the red-shift of a photon in the Schwarzschild geometry was
derived using the conservation law arising from time-translation symmetry. Show that
the cosmological red-shift (18.10) can be derived from the space translation symmetry of
the metric (18.1) in a similar way.

55
Solution: Memorize and begin with the Friedmann–Lemaı̂tre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW,
FRW, RW, or FL) Metric:

ds2 = −dt2 + a(t)2 (dx2 + dy 2 + dz 2 )

space translation symmetry implies Killing vectors, which are of the form:

ξxµ = (0, 1, 0, 0), ξyµ = (0, 0, 1, 0), ξzµ = (0, 0, 0, 1)

This implies that

a(t)2 px = const.
because
ξxµ pν gµν = const.
Therefore,
const.
px =
a2 (t)
1
px ∝
a2 (t)
We will use this in a minute.
Now consider the momentum as a vector quantity that, for light rays here, is null:

0 = pµ pν gµν

0 = −(pt )2 + a(t)2 (px )2

(pt )2 = a(t)2 (px )2
p
(pt )2 = a(t)2 (px )2
pt = a(t)|px |
We will use this in a minute.
pt
= |px |
a(t)
1
|px | ∝
a(t)
Have memorized and use the energy of a 4-velocity photon (wrt a static observe) as,

uµ = (1, 0, 0, 0)

Memorize the definition/idea that, for a pµ observed w.r.t. a uµ , E is defined as:

E ≡ −gµν uµ pν = pt

(similarly, get the pt ∝ a−1 (t) from the metric with a null (light) vector as:)

pµ pν gµν = 0

−(pt )2 + a2 (t)(px )2 = 0
(pt )2 = a2 (t)(px )2

56
 pt = a(t)|px |

pt = a(t)(1/a2 (t))
The E is known from Q.M. as well as,

E = ℏω

Substitute,
   
E 1 1 1 const. 1
ω= = pt = (a(t)|px |) = a(t) 2 ∝ a(t) 2
ℏ ℏ ℏ ℏ a (t) a (t)

Simplify a(t) terms

1
ω∝
a(t)
so,
ω1 a(t1 )
=
ω2 a(t2 )
which is the cosmological redshift derived from space symmetry and Killing vectors.

57