Solutions For A-329/429 Homework 2

Alex Gurvich
October 19th, 2017

Ryden - 5.1 [3 points]

In a flat single component universe the Friedmann equation takes the form
 2
ȧ
= H02 Ωw a−3(1+w)
a

We can easily solve for a(t) by writing ȧ = da

dt and putting all the a terms on one side and the dt on the
other, then integrating.
Z Z
1+3w p
daa 2 = dtH0 Ωw
2
3 + 3w  p  3+3w
a(t) = H 0 Ωw t
2
Which we can plug into the definition of redshift to get our starting point.
 2
 3+3w
a(t0 ) t0
1+z ≡ =
a(te ) te

dz
part a) finding dt0
[2 points]
We then need to take the derivative with respect to t0 , but we must do this before we plug in te . We’ll do
this using the chain and quotient rules.
dt0 dte
dz ȧ(t0 )a(te ) dt0
− ȧ(te )a(t0 ) dt0
=
dt0 a(te )2
We can write
2 a(t)
ȧ(t) =
3 + 3w t
And substitute to simplify a bit before fighting with powers of t to get
2 a(t0 ) dt0 2 a(te ) dte
dz 3+3w t0 a(te ) dt0 − 3+3w te a(t0 ) dt0
=
dt0 a(te )2
2
We can make this a bit cleaner by pulling out the common factor of 3+3w and canceling a power of a(te ),
a(t0 ) 1
then identifying that a(te ) = 1+z .
 
dz 2 1 dt0 1 dte
= − (1 + z)
dt0 3 + 3w t0 dt0 te dt0

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Which is almost starting to look manageable. We’ll need two more identities, one is straight forward
2 1 dt0
t0 = 3+3w H0 and the other dte = (1 + z). We will also have to use our initial definition of redshift to swap
in for the stray te in the second term inside the brackets.
 
dz 2 3 + 3w 3+3w 1
= H0 1 − (1 + z) 2 (1 + z)
dt0 3 + 3w 2 1+z
3+3w
= H0 (1 + z) − H0 (1 + z) 2

Which is what we were looking for.

part b) decreasing vs. increasing [1 point]

dz
We can see that dt 0
’s behavior will depend on whether the power of the negative term is < or > 1. We can
find the w for which that happens
3 + 3w
=1
2
1
w=−
3
When w < − 13 then 3+3w
2 < 1 and the positive term of dz
dt0 wins making it increase with t0 . The opposite is
true if w > − 13 .

Ryden - 5.2 [1.5 points]

In a flat matter only universe w = 0 and the Friedmann equation takes the form
 2
ȧ
= H02 Ω0,m a−3
a

We can use our result from R5.1 to say that

dz 3
= H0 (1 + z) − H0 (1 + z) 2
dt0
−6
So if we want dz
z = −10 (negative because w > −13 and z decreases with time in this single component
universe) at z = 1 with H0 = 68 km/s
M pc then we want dt0 , how long we have to observe it for the the redshift
to change by dz. This is found simply by rearranging our expression for dt0

H0  3
−1
dt0 = (1 + z) − (1 + z) 2 ≈ 17400yr
dz

Ryden - 5.5 [3.5 points]

In a flat two component universe with matter and “phantom energy” the Friedmann equation takes the form
 2
ȧ h i
= H02 Ω0,m a−3 + (1 − Ω0,m )a−3(1+wp )
a

2
part a) matter/phantom equality [1 point]
We are interested in the point when the two energy densities are equal, or when

Ω0,m a−3 −3(1+wp )

mp = (1 − Ω0,m )amp

We can easily rearrange this expression to solve for amp and get that
  3w1
1 − Ω0,m p
amp =
Ω0,m

part b) big rip [2 points]

Now we consider the limit when a >> amp and at this time the energy density of the universe is dominated
by the so called “phantom energy.” We can then safely ignore the matter term in the Friedmann equation
and write  2
ȧ
≈ H02 (1 − Ω0,m )a−3(1+wp )
a
We can multiply both sides by a2 and then take the square root to find
−3(1+wp )
+1
p
ȧ = H0 1 − Ω0,m a 2

We can then put all the a terms on one side and the t terms on the other, then integrate both sides from
t0 → trip , or equivalently a0 → ∞.
Z ∞ 3(1+wp )
Z trip
−1
p
a 2 = H0 1 − Ω0,m dt
a0 t0
2 h 3(1+wp ) i∞ p
a 2 = H0 (trip − t0 ) 1 − Ω0,m
3(1 + wp ) a0
2 h 3|1+wp | i∞
−
p
− a 2 = H0 (trip − t0 ) 1 − Ω0,m
3|1 + wp | a0
2 1
− (0 − 1) p = H0 (trip − t0 )
3|1 + wp | 1 − Ω0,m
2 1
p = H0 (trip − t0 )
3|1 + wp | 1 − Ω0,m

part c) how much longer do we have? [0.5 points]

We are asked for (trip − t0 and we are given H0 = 60 km/s
M pc ,Ωm,0 = 0.3, and wp = −1.1. Plugging these values
in we find that
2 1
trip − t0 = p = 114.8Gyr
3|1 + wp | H0 1 − Ω0,m

Ryden - 5.9 [3.5 points]

For a flat universe with both matter (w = 0) and a cosmological constant (w = −1) the Friedmann equation
takes the form  2
ȧ
= H02 Ω0,m a−3 + (1 − Ω0,m )
 
a

3
 Figure 1: Solving graphically for Ω0,m .

We will want to integrate and solve for a(t), so we will do that first by rearranging for ȧ, then putting all
the a terms on the LHS and all the t terms on the right (just dt). Then integrating from 0 → t0 .
q
ȧ = H0 Ω0,m a−1 + (1 − Ω0,m )a2
s
1 1 − Ω0,m 3
= H0 Ω0,m a− 2 1 +
p
a
Ω0,m
√
da a p
q = H0 Ω0,m dt
1−Ω0,m 3
1 + Ω0,m a
q
1−Ω0,m 3 3 1−Ω0,m 1
To integrate this we can make a u-substitution with u2 = Ω0,m a , du = 2 Ω0,m a da
2 giving us
s
2 Ω0,m du p
√ = H0 Ω0,m dt
3 1 − Ω0,m 1 + u2

p
We can cancel the common Ω0,m and integrate from 0 → t0 and 0 → a0 respectively (remembering to
replace u with its a counterpart after integration). We note that the integrand in u is a simple arcsinh
identity
s s !a=1
2 1 3 1 − Ω0,m
arcsinh a 2 = H0 t 0
3 1 − Ω0,m Ω0,m
a=0
You can compare this to Ryden’s equation 5.101, using the relevant identity for arcsinh in terms of the
natural log ln. Plugging in the values into arcsinh we get (finally)
s !
2 1 − Ω0,m
p arcsinh = H0 t0
3 1 − Ω0,m Ω0,m

But we want to know the Ω0,m when t0 = H0−1 , so we substitute in on the RHS and then rearrange a bit to
get our final expression s !
p
1 − Ω0,m 3 1 − Ω0,m
= sinh
Ω0,m 2
This expression can be solved graphically for Ω0,m (see Figure 1).

4
Ryden - 5.10 [1.5 points]
This problem is an exercise in plugging numbers in, so answers may vary depending on exactly what you
use. According to Ryden, the “Benchmark model” is a cosmology wherein H0 = 68 km/s
M pc , Ω0,γ = 5.35 × 10
−5
,
Ω0,b = 0.048, and Ω0,m = 0.31. She also tells us that dhor = 14, 000M pc, and I will use the value ρ0,c =
2
5200 M ev/c
m3 , taken from the chapter.

part a) total mass of all matter [0.5 points]

The total mass is just the mass density times the spherical volume with radius dhor
4 3
Mmatter = πd (Ω0,m ρ0,c ) = 4.85 × 1023 M
3 hor

part b) total energy of all photons [0.5 points]

The total energy of all photons is just the energy density times the spherical volume with radius dhor
4 3
Eγ = πd (Ω0,γ ρ0,c c2 ) = 9.4 × 1079 M ev = 1.24 × 1024 GyrL
3 hor

part c) number of baryons [0.5 points]

The total number of baryons is just the baryon mass density times the spherical volume with radius dhor ,
divided by the average mass per baryon. A good approximation is that the mean metallicity of the universe
is relatively small, so I will use just MH but a more careful approach could be taken at solar metallicity and
including Helium and heaver baryons.
4 3 1
Nbary = πd (Ω0,b ρ0,c ) = 8.9 × 1079
3 hor MH

CA-FG - I [3 points]
part a) matter only [1 point]
For matter only (w = 0) the Friedmann equation takes the form
 2
ȧ
= Ω0,m a−3
a

If we assume a ∼ tq then ȧ(t) = at a(t) plugging this in we find

 q 2
= Ω0,m a−3
t
or rather that
2
a(t) ∼ t 3
we can normalize this by dividing both sides by a(t0 ) to get our answer
  23
a(t) t
= a(t) =
a(t0 ) = 1 t0

5
part b) radiation only [1 point]
For radiation only (w = 31 ) the Friedmann equation takes the form
 2
ȧ
= Ω0,γ a−4
a

Following the steps above we have that

1
a(t) ∼ t 2
or rather that   12
t
a(t) =
t0

part c) comparing energy densities [1 point]

We can find m (t) = Ω0,m 0,c a(t)−3 and γ (t) = Ω0,γ 0,c a(t)−4 by plugging in our previous expressions for
a(t) into each respective i . We find, however, that both the matter dominated and radiation dominated
densities scale as
i ∼ t−2
and so they decline equally with respect to time.

CA-FG - II [2 points]
This one is going to take some imagination. Imagine a single photon passing through a wall with an angle
θ with respect to its normal vector. The amount of momentum passing through the wall, in the direction of
the normal vector (here x), is
pθx = p cos θ
Now we want to count how many photons will do this in a time ∆t. In a specified area A, a group of photons
(all traveling the same direction with an angle θ with respect to the normal) will all pass through the wall
from a volume
V θ = c cos θ∆tA
then the number of photons coming from an angle θ in the time ∆t is

N θ = nc cos θ∆tA

and the total amount of momentum they impart on the wall is

∆pθ = pθx N θ = (p cos θ)(nc cos θ∆tA)

We can rewrite this by dividing by ∆t and A while also identifying that npc = , the energy density.

∆pθ 1 Fθ
= = P θ =  cos2 θ
∆t A A
Where F θ is the force imparted from the θ direction and P θ is the associated pressure from the θ direction.
We now have to add up the contributions from all the theta directions, weighting by how many photons
come from each θ. If we assume an isotropic distribution of photons then the number of photons arriving
at the wall from each θ is proportional to the ratio of the area of the differential ring (of width dθ) on a
hemisphere to the total area of the hemisphere. Or, in other words, the “weighting factor” wθ dθ is

(2πr)(r sin θ)dθ

wθ dθ = = sin θdθ
2πr2

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So we can find the total pressureP by plugging in and integrating over θ ∈ [0, π2 ] (the possible θs for photons
arriving from hemisphere)
Z π
2
P = dθP θ wθ
0
Z π
2
=  dθ cos2 θ sin θ
0
Z 1
=  u2
0

=
3
Which gives an equation of state parameter P = w of w = 31 , as it should!

CA-FG - III [3.5 points]

In a single component universe the Friedmann equation takes the form
ȧ p 3
= H0 Ωw a− 2 (1+w)
a
If we assume that a(t) ∼ tq then we can find that, by plugging in for ȧ as above, that
 2
 3+3w
t
a(t) =
t0

generally. You can check that the above answers in problem CA-FG I agree with this general version.

part a) finding 3 distances [2.5 points]

We will first need the comoving distance Z t0
dt
χ=c
te a(t)
which can be used to write the luminosity distance

dL = (1 + z)χ

and the angular diameter distance

χ
dA =
1+z
which I have taken from Ryden equations 6.28 and 6.36. I highly recommend you go through Ryden’s
derivation of these expressions, but I will take them for granted for this problem. Thus all we need to do is
evaluate χ and we will get dL and dA basically for free. So let’s perform the integral to get χ! It’s a simple

7
power law integration, so it shouldn’t be too tough
2
Z t0
2
χ = ct03+3w dtt− 3+3w
te
1+3w t0
3 + 3w 3+3w
2 hi
= c t 3+3w
t0
1 + 3w t
 1+3w e 1+3w 
3 + 3w 3+3w
2
3+3w
= c t0
t0 − te3+3w
1 + 3w
"   1+3w #
3 + 3w 3+3w
2
+ 1+3w
3+3w te 3+3w
= c t 1−
1 + 3w 0 t0
 h
3 + 3w 2 1 1+3w
i
= c 1 − (1 + z)− 2
1 + 3w 3 + 3w H0
2c 1 h 1+3w
i
= 1 − (1 + z)− 2
1 + 3w H0
2 1
E.g., Ryden equation 5.5. Note that the second to last equality is achieved by substituting t0 = 3+3w H0
2
  3+3w
and tt0e = 1 + z, both of which we have used previously. We can now use our earlier expressions for
χ
dL = χ(1 + z) and dA = 1+z to find

2c 1 + z h 1+3w
i
dL = 1 − (1 + z)− 2
1 + 3w H0
and
2c 1 h 1+3w
i
dA = 1 − (1 + z)− 2
1 + 3w H0 (1 + z)

part b) finding zpeak [1 point]

We will now begin the lengthy task of taking the derivative of dA with respect to z, setting it equal to 0,
and solving for zpeak . I wouldn’t trust Mathematica to do this in a way that was human readable. Let’s get

8
on with it.
d
dA = 0
 dz 
1+3w
−
2c 1 d 1 − (1 + z) 2
=
1 + 3w H0 dz 1+z
 
− 1+3w
d 1 − (1 + z) 2

=
dz 1+z
− 3+3w 1+3w
(1 + z) 2 (1 + z) 2 − (1)(1 − (1 + z)− 2 )
1+3w
=
(1 + z)2
1 1 + 3w 1+3w 1+3w
(1 + z) (1 + z)− 2 − 1 + (1 + z)− 2 =
1+z 2
1 + 3w 1+3w 1+3w
(1 + z)− 2 + (1 + z)− 2 = 1
2
3 + 3w 1+3w
(1 + z)− 2 = 1
2
 2
− 1+3w
2
(1 + z) =
3 + 3w
 2
− 1+3w
2
zpeak = −1
3 + 3w

CA-FG - IV [1.5 points]

This problem is an exercise in keeping track of units, you should know that

[h̄] = (energy)(time) = (force)(length)(time) = (mass)(length)2 (time)−1

length
[c] =
time
(force)(length)2 (mass)(length)/(time)2 (length)2 (length)3
[G] = = =
(mass)2 (mass)2 (mass)(time)2
We can then plug these in to find
"  1 #  1
2 2
 3
1
2 2
h̄c 2 2 −1 length (mass)(time) 2 (length) (time)
[mp ] = = (mass)(length) (time) = (mass) = mass
G time (length)3 (length)3 (time)2
 3
 21
 12 # (length)  12
(mass)(length)2 (time)−1 (mass)(time)
"
(length)5 (mass) (time)3

h̄G 2
[lp ] = = (length)3
 = = length
c3 (length)3 (mass) (time)3
(time)3

Then obviously  
mp (mass)
[ρp ] = 3
=
lp (length)3

Next we need ρΛ = ρ0,c Ω0,Λ , plugging in values for H0 ≈ 70 km/s

M pc , Ω0,Λ ≈ 0.7, and standard values for h̄, G,
and c we find that
ρΛ
≈ 1.25 × 10−123
ρp
which is shockingly small.