Fluctuations at the Threshold of Classical Cosmology
Abstract
The "threshold epoch" of classical cosmology is first discussed from a classical point of view. It is shown that if the density fluctuations at this epoch are proportional to ${N}^{\ensuremath{-}n}$ (where $N$ is the number of particles in a disturbance), then $n$ must exactly, or very closely, equal the value $\frac{2}{3}$ in order that such fluctuations develop into protogalaxies. This result is independent of the value of the threshold epoch, and of the equation of state for the very early universe. Arguments of a speculative nature are then presented which indicate that the threshold epoch occurs at the Planck density. It is also proposed that the initial conditions of galaxy formation are metric fluctuations at the threshold epoch of classical cosmology. The evidence in favor of this theory is (i) the density fluctuation obeys the $n=\frac{2}{3}$ rule, and (ii) the spin fluctuation gives an eventual angular momentum of the order ${N}^{\frac{4}{3}}\ensuremath{\hbar}$, in reasonable agrement with that of the Galaxy.
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The primordial fluctuations would be scale invariant and described by a power spectrum.
“These primordial fluctuations would be scale invariant and described by the power spectrum (Harrison 1970; Peebles and Yu 1970; Zeldovich 1972)48with .”
From Testing general relativity in cosmology (2019) · cites this paper as Harrison 1970
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- Authors
- Harrison, E. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
- Corresponding author
- Harrison, E. R.
- Venue
- Physical Review D
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Published
- 1970-05-15
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 2726-2730
- ISSN
- 0556-2821 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1991824329
- Cited by
- 574
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 1.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields (publishedVersion)
- EP Europace
- Funders
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
- Keywords
- classical cosmology, density fluctuations, protogalaxy formation, Planck density, metric fluctuations, spin fluctuations, early universe
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