Report: Cosmological Parameter Constraining Using Bayesian Inference

Bipasha Bhattacharjee, Dep. Of Physics, UG2, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Kolkata
For this project, I have learnt some Newtonian Cosmology, starting with basic concepts like the
Cosmological principle, Comoving coordinates, the Hubble’s law, and going through the derivations of
the Friedmann, Fluid and Acceleration equations. Then I have read about the various possible
geometries of the Universe and simple Cosmological models. I have then studied some of the
Cosmological parameters.
Here I show some of the derivations and a few of the things I learned during the process.

1. The Friedmann Equation

Image source: Andrew Liddle – An Introduction to Modern Cosmology

Mass,
4𝜋𝜌𝑟 3
𝑀 = 𝜌𝑉 =
3
The gravitational force
𝐺𝑀𝑚 4𝜋𝐺𝜌𝑟𝑚
𝐹= =
𝑟2 3
Hence, the gravitational potential energy
𝐺𝑀𝑚 4𝜋𝐺𝜌𝑟 2 𝑚
𝑈 = − =−
𝑟 3
The kinetic energy
1
𝑇= 𝑚𝑟̇ 2
2
Hence, total energy
𝐸 = constant
= 𝑈+𝑇
1 2
4𝜋𝐺𝜌𝑟 2 𝑚
= 𝑚𝑟̇ −
2 3
1 4𝜋𝐺𝜌(𝑎𝑥)2 𝑚
= 𝑚(𝑎̇ 𝑥)2 −
2 3
 1 4𝜋𝐺𝜌𝑎 2 𝑥 2 𝑚
= 𝑚𝑎̇ 2 𝑥 2 −
2 3
1
Dividing by 2 𝑚𝑎2 𝑥 2,

𝐸 𝑎̇ 2 8𝜋𝐺𝜌
∴ =( ) −
1 𝑎 3
(2) 𝑚𝑎2 𝑥 2

𝑎̇ 2 8𝜋𝐺𝜌 𝐸
∴( ) = +
𝑎 3 1
(2) 𝑚𝑎2 𝑥 2

𝒂̇ 𝟐 𝟖𝝅𝑮𝝆 𝒌𝒄𝟐
∴( ) = − 𝟐
𝒂 𝟑 𝒂
−2𝐸 −2𝐸
where 𝑘𝑐 2 = ∴𝑘=
𝑚𝑥 2 𝑚𝑐 2 𝑥 2

This is the standard form of the Friedmann Equation.

𝑘 must be independent of 𝑥 since all the other terms in the equation are, otherwise no homogeneity is
maintained.
∴ 𝑈 ∝ 𝑥2
𝑘 is time-independent (since 𝐸 is conserved wrt. 𝑡 and 𝑥 is constant with 𝑡).
∴ 𝑘 is just a constant, unchanging with either space or time.
𝑘 = [𝐿]−2 (dimensions)
An expanding Universe has a unique value of 𝑘, which it retains throughout its evolution.

2. The Fluid Equation

By the 1st law of Thermodynamics,
𝑑𝑄 = 𝑑𝑈 + 𝑑𝑊
[𝑑𝑄 is the Heat given to the system, 𝑑𝑊 is the Work done by the system, 𝑑𝑈 is the increase in
internal energy of the system]
𝑑𝑄 = 0 since Adiabatic.
∴ 𝑑𝑈 = −𝑑𝑊 = −𝑃𝑑𝑉
[or, 𝑑𝑈 + 𝑃𝑑𝑉 = 𝑇𝑑𝑆 , 𝑑𝑆 = 0 since Adiabatic,
∴ 𝑑𝑈 = −𝑃𝑑𝑉 since 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑑𝑄/𝑑𝑇]
applied to an expanding volume 𝑉 of unit comoving radius.
∴ Physical radius of volume = 𝑎.
By Einstein’s equation,

𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐 2
4𝜋𝜌𝑎3 𝑐 2
=
3
 𝑑𝐸 4𝜋𝑐 2 3 𝑑𝜌 𝑑𝑎
∴ = [𝑎 + 𝜌3𝑎2 ]
𝑑𝑡 3 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑎 2 4𝜋𝑐 2 3 𝑑𝜌
= 4𝜋𝑎2 𝜌𝑐 + 𝑎
𝑑𝑡 3 𝑑𝑡
4 3
𝑑𝑉 𝑑 (3 𝜋𝑎 ) 𝑑𝑎
[ = = 4𝜋𝑎2 ]
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑉 𝑐 2 𝑎 𝑑𝜌 𝑑𝑉
= 𝜌𝑐 2 + … … (2)
𝑑𝑡 3 𝑑𝑎 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡
Assuming a reversible adiabatic expansion, 𝑑𝑆 = 0.
From (2),
𝑑𝐸 𝑑𝑉
= −𝑃
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉 𝑐 2 𝑎 𝑑𝜌 𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑉
∴ 𝜌𝑐 2 + = −𝑃
𝑑𝑡 3 𝑑𝑎 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝑐2 𝑎
𝜌̇ + (𝜌𝑐 2 + 𝑃) = 0
3 𝑎̇
𝒂̇ 𝑷
𝝆̇ + 𝟑 (𝝆 + 𝟐 ) = 𝟎
𝒂 𝒄
𝜌 is constant over space (since homogeneous) but not constant with time so 𝜌̇ exists.
This is the fluid equation.

3. The Acceleration Equation

The Friedmann Equation was

𝑎̇ 2 8𝜋𝐺𝜌 𝑘𝑐 2
( ) = − 2
𝑎 3 𝑎
Differentiating this wrt. time 𝑡,
𝑎̇ 𝑎𝑎̈ − (𝑎̇ )2 8𝜋𝐺𝜌̇ 2𝑘𝑐 2 𝑎̇
2( ) = +
𝑎 𝑎2 3 𝑎3
Substituting 𝜌̇ from the Fluid Equation,
𝑎̇ 𝑃
𝜌̇ + 3 (𝜌 + 2 ) = 0
𝑎 𝑐
We get

𝒂̇ 𝑷
4 8𝜋𝐺 (𝟑 𝒂 (𝝆 + 𝟐 ))
𝑎̇ 𝑎𝑎̈ − (𝑎̇ )2 𝒄 2𝑘𝑐 2 𝑎̇
2( ) =− +
𝑎 𝑎2 3 𝑎3 𝑎2
 𝑎𝑎̈ − (𝑎̇ )2 𝑃 𝑘𝑐 2
∴ = −4𝜋𝐺 (𝜌 + ) +
𝑎2 𝑐2 𝑎2

𝑎̈ 𝑎̇ 2 𝑃 𝑘𝑐 2
∴ ( ) − ( ) = −4𝜋𝐺 (𝜌 + 2 ) + 2
𝑎 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎
Again using the Friedmann equation,

𝑎̈ 𝑎̇ 2 𝑃 𝑘𝑐 2
( ) = ( ) − 4𝜋𝐺 (𝜌 + 2 ) + 2
𝑎 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎
8𝜋𝐺𝜌 𝑘𝑐 2 𝑃 𝑘𝑐 2
= − 2 − 4𝜋𝐺 (𝜌 + 2 ) + 2
3 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎
−4𝜋𝐺𝜌 4𝜋𝐺𝑃
= − 2
3 𝑐
𝒂̈ 𝟒𝝅𝑮 𝟑𝑷
∴( )=− (𝝆 + 𝟐 )
𝒂 𝟑 𝒄
This is the Acceleration Equation.

4. Universe geometries
The geometry of the Universe depends on the value of 𝑘 as follows.

Sum of
Universe Circumference Type of
Value of 𝒌 angles of a
geometry of a circle Universe
triangle

𝒌>𝟎 Spherical > 180° < 2𝜋𝑟 Closed

𝒌=𝟎 Flat = 180° = 2𝜋𝑟 Flat

𝒌<𝟎 Hyperbolic < 180° > 2𝜋𝑟 Open

5. Observational parameters
These are some of the cosmological parameters.

• The Hubble’s constant 𝑯𝟎

An accurate estimation of ‘ℎ’ is necessary to determine the Hubble's Constant 𝐻0 , typically written as

𝐻0 = 100ℎ 𝑘𝑚 𝑠 −1 𝑀𝑝𝑐 −1
crucial for determining various attributes of the Universe. Measurement of distant galaxy distances, to
minimize the contribution of peculiar velocities to the galaxy velocity, is not possible by parallax, and
is instead done by the Standard Candles method aided by Hubble Space Telescope observations.

• The Density parameter 𝛀𝟎

The density parameter Ω0 , which is the ratio of the actual density of the Universe to the critical density,
when used to rewrite the Friedmann equation, is useful in examining the evolution of density.
 𝜌
Ω(𝑡) =
𝜌𝑐

• The Deceleration parameter 𝒒𝟎

The deceleration parameter 𝑞0 determines the deceleration in the expansion and can be used to
determine the density parameter, which is its double for a pressure-less Universe, that is,
Ω0
𝑞0 =
2
• The Cosmological Constant 𝚲
The Cosmological Constant Λ, assumed to be the energy density of vacant space, is too large a value to
be observed leading to the Cosmological Constant Problem. This ‘constant’ may even vary slowly
according to Quintessence. The relationship between the density parameter, of the Cosmological
Constant, with the matter density parameter determines the Cosmological model.

Conclusion
These are some of my learnings from this project till now and I wish to further continue with the project.

Reference
Andrew Liddle – An Introduction to Modern Cosmology