Friedmann acceleration equation

For energy density $\rho$, pressure $P$, and cosmological constant $\Lambda$,

For a homogeneous pressureless fluid in comoving coordinates, the Euler equation giveswhile the Poisson equation givesTaking the divergence of the first relation and comparing them yieldsThis local fluid derivation describes a homogeneous infinite universe without choosing a physical centre of expansion.

For positive spatial curvature, zero cosmological constant, and $\rho ,P\ge 0$, continuity makes $\rho a^3$ nonincreasing during expansion. The negative curvature term then prevents unbounded growth of $a$, while the acceleration equation forces $\dot{a}$ to reach zero in finite time.

With zero cosmological constant, the condition $\rho +3P\ge 0$ implies $\ddot{a}\le 0$ andwherever $H\ne 0$.

In an FLRW metric with zero separate cosmological constant, $\varrho +3p\ge 0$ makes the Friedmann acceleration equation imply $\ddot{a}\le 0$. If $a_0=a(t_0)>0$ and $v_0=\dot{a}(t_0)>0$, then the scale factor is a concave function andthroughout its regular past interval. Thus a regular positive scale factor cannot persist earlier than $t_0-a_0/v_0$. If the solution continues regularly whenever $a>0$, its first past zero occurs within $a_0/v_0=H(t_0{)}^{-1}$, where $H$ is the Hubble parameter.

The continuation condition matters: without restrictions on the equation of state, an earlier curvature singularity can occur at positive $a$. For example, in fixed units $a(t)=1+\sqrt{t}$, $t>0$, with $k=0$, defines energy density $\varrho =3(\dot{a}/a{)}^2/(8\pi G)$ and pressure $p=-\varrho /3-\ddot{a}/(4\pi Ga)$. These satisfy the Friedmann equations and $\varrho +3p>0$, yet $a\to 1$ at the singular past boundary. Conversely the Milne model reaches zero without divergent curvature. A finite duration, a zero of the scale factor, and a curvature singularity are distinct conclusions.

If $H>0$ at one time, the inequality $d(H^{-1})/dt\ge 1$ forces $H\to +\infty$ and $a\to 0$ within finite time to the past. If $H<0$, it forces $H\to -\infty$ and $a\to 0$ within finite time to the future.

In a flat radiation-plus-$\Lambda$ universe,The expansion changes from deceleration to acceleration when the radiation and cosmological-constant terms are equal, at