Computing Accurate Age and Distance Factors in Cosmology

TL;DR

This paper explains how to accurately compute age and distance factors in cosmology by solving Friedmann equations numerically, enhancing understanding of high-redshift phenomena through student projects.

Contribution

It provides a practical method to numerically solve Friedmann equations for cosmological calculations, including educational projects for students.

Findings

Numerical solutions to Friedmann equations can be easily implemented.

Observed cosmological quantities depend on space expansion, not simple Cartesian models.

Educational projects help students understand high-redshift cosmology.

Abstract

As the universe expands astronomical observables such as brightness and angular size on the sky change in ways that differ from our simple Cartesian expectation. We show how observed quantities depend on the expansion of space and demonstrate how to calculate such quantities using the Friedmann equations. The general solution to the Friedmann equations requires a numerical solution which is easily coded in any computing language (including EXCEL). We use these numerical calculations in four student projects that help to build their understanding of high-redshift phenomena and cosmology. Instructions for these projects are available as supplementary materials.