 Constant-equation-of-state conformal Riccati equation

For a perfect fluid in general relativity with constant equation-of-state parameter $w$, use conformal time $dt=ad\tau$ and the conformal Hubble parameter $\mathcal{H}=a^{\prime }/a=aH$. The Friedmann acceleration equation gives ${\mathcal{H}}^{\prime }=a\ddot{a}=-4\pi G{a}^2(1+3w)\rho /3$. The Friedmann equation eliminates $\rho$ and gives this Riccati equation. For positive energy density, $\alpha \ne 0$ and appropriately shifted conformal time, its usual branches are $\cot (\alpha \tau )$ for $k=1$, $1/(\alpha \tau )$ for $k=0$, and $\coth (\alpha \tau )$ for $k=-1$. Their scale factors are proportional to ${\sin }^{1/\alpha }(\alpha \tau )$, $(\alpha \tau {)}^{1/\alpha }$ and ${\sinh }^{1/\alpha }(\alpha \tau )$ respectively on intervals where the bases are positive. At $\alpha =0$ the conformal Hubble parameter is constant and the separate solution is $a=A{e}^{h\tau }$.