Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2006/ii/paper-4/15d/b/solution

For a flat matter-dominated universe, the Friedmann solution has , and . Thus the density equation is
Trying gives , with roots and . Therefore
The growing mode is proportional to the scale factor. When smooth dark energy or a cosmological constant dominates, the matter source density falls while expansion provides continued damping, suppressing growth. In the late constant- limit, and , so and tends to a constant plus a decaying term. Matter perturbations therefore cease growing appreciably rather than continuing the matter-era law indefinitely.

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