Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-formation-of-structure-in-the-universe-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/paper-1/1/d/solution

Use the supplied flat radiation-era background equations. Write , with constant. On the expanding branch,
Choosing the origin at the big bang gives
The supplied perturbation equation consequently becomes
A trial gives , so . Thus both independent modes are
The 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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