Regge calculus models of the closed vacuum $\Lambda$-FLRW universe

TL;DR

This paper evaluates Regge calculus models of closed vacuum $ ext{Lambda}$-FLRW universes, analyzing their accuracy, limitations, and the impact of discretization resolution on their ability to replicate continuum cosmological expansion.

Contribution

It compares global and local variations in Regge calculus, assesses model performance with increasing tetrahedra, and identifies limitations due to finite resolution in approximating continuum FLRW universes.

Findings

Local variation generally does not produce viable models.

Models satisfy initial value equations at time symmetry.

Performance improves with more tetrahedra but eventually fails to match continuum expansion.

Abstract

The Collins-Williams Regge calculus models of FLRW space-times and Brewin's subdivided models are applied to closed vacuum $\Lambda$-FLRW universes. In each case, we embed the Regge Cauchy surfaces into 3-spheres in $\mathbf{E}^4$ and consider possible measures of Cauchy surface radius that can be derived from the embedding. Regge equations are obtained from both global variation, where entire sets of identical edges get varied simultaneously, and local variation, where each edge gets varied individually. We explore the relationship between the two sets of solutions, the conditions under which the Regge Hamiltonian constraint would be a first integral of the evolution equation, the initial value equation for each model at its moment of time symmetry, and the performance of the various models. It is revealed that local variation does not generally lead to a viable Regge model. It is also demonstrated that the various models do satisfy their respective initial value equations. Finally, it is shown that the models reproduce the behaviour of the continuum model rather well initially, with performance improving as we increase the number of tetrahedra used to construct the Regge Cauchy surface. Eventually though, all models gradually fail to keep up with the continuum FLRW model's expansion, with the models with lower numbers of tetrahedra falling away more quickly. We believe this failure to keep up is due to the finite resolution of the Regge Cauchy surfaces trying to approximate an ever expanding continuum Cauchy surface; each Regge surface has a fixed number of tetrahedra and as the surface being approximated gets larger, the resolution would degrade. Finally, we note that all Regge models end abruptly at a point when the time-like struts of the skeleton become null, though this end-point appears to get delayed as the number of tetrahedra is increased.