Is the cosmological singularity really unavoidable in general relativity?

TL;DR

This paper explores whether the initial singularity in standard general relativity can be avoided by using conformal formulations, showing certain cosmological models are singularity-free in these alternative descriptions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that flat and open Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes are free of singularities when described using conformal formulations of general relativity, challenging the inevitability of singularities.

Findings

Flat FRW universes are singularity-free in conformal formulations.

Open dust-filled and radiation-filled universes are singularity-free in conformal formulations.

Conformal formulations are physically equivalent to standard Einstein's theory for these models.

Abstract

The initial singularity problem in standard general relativity is treated on the light of a viewpoint asserting that this formulation of Einstein's theory and its conformal formulations are physically equivalent. We show that flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes and open dust-filled and radiation-filled universes are singularity free when described in terms of the formulation of general relativity conformal to the canonical one.