Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 66 3 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
For pressureless matter with curvature and a possible constant cosmological constant, write the background Friedmann equation asDifferentiating on the expanding branch givesConsequentlyThis proves that the Hubble parameter as a solution of the dust growth equation is valid, including constant- and curvature contributions to the background. It does not extend without change to a radiation background or arbitrary dynamical dark energy.
In an Einstein-de Sitter universe, , and . The linear matter perturbation growth equation becomesSubstitute . The indicial equation is , with roots and . ThereforeThe Hubble-parameter solution is the decaying mode in the Einstein-de Sitter universe.