Structure Formation in the Early Universe

TL;DR

This paper investigates the evolution of density perturbations in the early universe, highlighting differences between large and small scales, and proposing mechanisms for structure formation post-decoupling involving heat exchange.

Contribution

It provides new insights into small-scale perturbation growth and the role of diabatic processes in early universe structure formation.

Findings

Small-scale perturbations grew proportional to the square root of time during radiation era.

Perturbations in Cold Dark Matter were coupled to total energy density perturbations.

Heat exchange post-decoupling may have accelerated structure formation.

Abstract

The evolution of the perturbations in the energy density and the particle number density in a flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker universe in the radiation-dominated era and in the epoch after decoupling of matter and radiation is studied. For large-scale perturbations the outcome is in accordance with treatments in the literature. For small-scale perturbations the differences are conspicuous. Firstly, in the radiation-dominated era small-scale perturbations grew proportional to the square root of time. Secondly, perturbations in the Cold Dark Matter particle number density were, due to gravitation, coupled to perturbations in the total energy density. This implies that structure formation could have begun successfully only after decoupling of matter and radiation. Finally, after decoupling density perturbations evolved diabatically, i.e., they exchanged heat with their environment. This heat exchange may have enhanced the growth rate of their mass sufficiently to explain structure formation in the early universe, a phenomenon which cannot be understood from adiabatic density perturbations.