Solution (source code)

= Solution

For subhorizon pressureless matter during radiation domination, expansion is too rapid for significant self-gravitating growth. Neglecting the small matter-gravity term gives $\ddot\delta_m+t^{-1}\dot\delta_m\simeq0$, hence a constant plus a logarithm of time; the exact coupled radiation problem supplies the detailed amplitudes. This is the <Mészáros effect>. Modes entering the horizon during radiation domination are suppressed relative to modes entering later, while after equality ordinary matter growth resumes.

The matter <power spectrum> consequently has a turnover near the equality horizon scale $k_{\mathrm{eq}}\sim a_{\mathrm{eq}}H_{\mathrm{eq}}$ in units with $c=1$. Shorter-scale modes retain the radiation-era suppression. This statement concerns cold pressureless matter; baryons coupled to photons also show acoustic effects before recombination.