Eigenmode analysis of perurbations in the primordial medium at and before recombination

TL;DR

This paper investigates the primordial medium's perturbation modes before and during recombination, revealing weak coupling between baryons and dark matter, which challenges common assumptions in large-scale structure simulations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of wave modes in the early universe's plasma, highlighting the distinct behaviors of baryonic matter and dark matter perturbations.

Findings

Baryon acoustic waves exist with phase velocities near the speed of light.

Dark matter primarily undergoes gravitational collapse with minimal participation in acoustic modes.

Weak baryon-dark matter coupling questions assumptions in initial condition setups for galaxy formation simulations.

Abstract

Anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background are thought to be due to perturbations of the primordial medium, which, post recombination, lead to the formation of galaxy clusters and galaxies. Aims: We analyse the perturbation wave modes of the primordial medium at and before recombination, consisting of a fully ionized baryonic plasma, a strong black body radiation field, and cold dark matter. Methods: We use the linear perturbation theory of the relativistic equations of motion, utilising a strict thermodynamic equilibrium model that relates the radiation energy density to the plasma temperature. Results: It is shown that a wave mode corresponding to the postulated baryon acoustic waves exists with a phase velocity close to the speed of light, but the participation of the dark matter in this mode is very small. Instead, the dark matter has its own dominant mode in the form of gravitational collapse, with very little participation by the baryonic plasma. Conclusions: In view of this very weak coupling between baryons and dark matter, the initial conditions postulated for computer simulations of large-scale structure and galaxy formation, which assume that after recombination, when galaxy formation is getting underway, baryon and dark matter density perturbations are spatially coincident in terms of fractional amplitude, may be unjustified. In addition the possible non-coincidence of baryon and dark matter perturbations at the last scattering surface has implications for the analysis of cosmic microwave background anisotropies.