Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-formation-of-structure-in-the-universe-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/paper-1/1/d/solution
Past exam of the formation of Structure in the Universe course of the University of Cambridge 2016 Paper 1 1 d Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-20
Use the supplied flat radiation-era background equations. Write , with constant. On the expanding branch,Choosing the origin at the big bang givesThe supplied perturbation equation consequently becomesA trial gives , so . Thus both independent modes areThe growing mode is , and the other decays as . At sufficiently late times any nonzero growing-mode coefficient dominates while linearization remains valid.
The calculation follows the stated differential equation, including its coefficient . The name Einstein-de Sitter ordinarily denotes a flat pressureless matter universe, whose growth law is different; here the explicit radiation scaling fixes the intended background. Nor does this scale-free equation describe every subhorizon radiation perturbation: including a pressure-gradient term introduces acoustic behavior. No wavelength-independent claim beyond the supplied model is needed.
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