We propose and construct a two-parameter expansion around a Friedmann-Lemaitre- Robertson-Walker geometry which uses both large-scale and small-scale perturbations analogous to cosmological perturbation theory and post-Newtonian gravity. We justify this observationally, derive a set of field equations valid on a fraction of the horizon size and perform a detailed investigation of the associated gauge problem. We find only the Newtonian gauge, out of the standard gauges used in cosmological perturbation theory, is applicable to post-Newtonian perturbations; we can identify a consistent set of perturbed quantities in the matter and gravity sectors and construct corresponding gauge-invariant quantities. The field equations, written in terms of these quantities, takes on a simpler form, and allows the effects of small-scale structure on the large-scale properties of the Universe to be clearly identified and discussed for different physical scenarios. With a definition of statistical homogeneity, we find that the cosmological constant and the average energy density, of radiation and dust, source the Friedmann equation, whereas only the inhomogeneous part of the Newtonian energy density sources the Newton-Poisson equation { even though both originate from the same equation. There exists field equations at new orders in our formalism, such as a frame-dragging field equation a hundred times larger than expected from using cosmological perturbation theory alone. Moreover, we find non-linear gravity, mode-mixing and a mixing-of-scales at orders one would not expect from intuition based on cosmological perturbation theory. By recasting the field equations as an effective fluid we observe that these non-linearities lead to, for example, a large-scale effective pressure and anisotropic stress. We expect our formalism to be useful for accurately modelling our Universe, and for investigating the effects of non-linear gravity in the era of ultra-large-scale surveys.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:766271 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Goldberg, Sophia Rachel |
| Publisher | Queen Mary, University of London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/43168 |
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