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Neglect radiation in cosmology and take pressureless matter plus a separately conserved dark energy component with $p_{\mathrm{DE}}=w{\rho }_{\mathrm{DE}}{c}^2$, where $\rho$ here denotes mass-equivalent energy density. The Friedmann acceleration equation givesThus $w<-1/3$ for a positive-density component is necessary for that component to accelerate expansion, but the total must also overcome pressureless matter. For a cosmological constant, $w=-1$ and $q_0={\Omega }_{m,0}/2-{\Omega }_{\Lambda ,0}$, so acceleration requires ${\Omega }_{\Lambda ,0}>{\Omega }_{m,0}/2$. Spatial curvature of an FLRW universe enters the distance relation but has no separate term in this acceleration criterion. A Hubble diagram alone does not identify a microscopic dark energy mechanism.

Suppose a homogeneous scalar field oscillates much faster than the Hubble parameter in a monomial potential $V(\varphi )=\lambda |\varphi {|}^n$. The virial theorem averaged over one oscillation gives $⟨{\dot{\varphi }}^2⟩=n⟨V⟩$, and henceA quadratic minimum therefore behaves like pressureless matter, whereas a quartic minimum behaves like radiation in cosmology.

For a spatially flat FLRW metric containing conserved pressureless matter and radiation in cosmology, with $a_0=1$ and conformal time zero at the Big Bang, the Friedmann equation gives $a^{\prime 2}=H_0^2({\Omega }_{M,0}a+{\Omega }_{R,0})$. Separating the positive square root gives the displayed scale factor. At matter-radiation equality, $a_{\mathrm{eq}}={\Omega }_{R,0}/{\Omega }_{M,0}$ and ${\eta }_{\mathrm{eq}}=2(\sqrt{2}-1)\sqrt{{\Omega }_{R,0}}/(H_0{\Omega }_{M,0})$. Here the prime denotes differentiation with respect to $\eta$, not $c\eta$.

With nonnegative conserved pressureless matter and radiation in cosmology, set $M=(8\pi G/3){\rho }_m{a}^3$, $Q=(8\pi G/3){\rho }_r{a}^4$, and $L=(8\pi G/3){\rho }_{\Lambda }$. The Friedmann equation becomes $(da/dt{)}^2+V(a)=-k$. For negative vacuum density the potential rises strictly from negative infinity to positive infinity, so an expanding branch has one maximum scale factor. For positive vacuum density it has one maximum: energy above that maximum gives monotonic expansion or contraction, energy below it gives disjoint recollapsing and bouncing branches, and equality admits an Einstein static universe together with asymptotic monotonic branches.

Material constituents such as particles and their composites. In cosmology, the narrower phrase pressureless matter usually refers to nonrelativistic components whose rest energy dominates their random kinetic energy, giving negligible pressure and density proportional to the inverse cube of the scale factor. This usage distinguishes the matter contribution from relativistic radiation in cosmology and vacuum energy.

In a flat universe containing pressureless matter and a positive cosmological constant, normalize the scale factor to one today. The Friedmann equation and $d\tau =dt/a$ giveThe change of variable is $a=({\Omega }_m/{\Omega }_{\Lambda }{)}^{1/3}y$. Including radiation in cosmology makes this an approximation, with its omitted early contribution of order $H_0^{-1}\sqrt{{\Omega }_r}/{\Omega }_m$. When the upper limit is large, the integral approaches $I=\Gamma (1/6)\Gamma (1/3)/(3\sqrt{\pi })$; this follows by setting $z=y^3$ and using the beta function integral.

In a flat universe containing pressureless matter and smooth radiation in cosmology, put $y=a/a_{\mathrm{eq}}$ and $C=H_0^2{\Omega }_{m,0}^2/{\Omega }_{r,0}$. The Friedmann equation gives ${\mathcal{H}}^2=C(1+y)/y^2$, so $y^{\prime 2}=C(1+y)$ and $y^{\prime \prime }=C/2$. The subhorizon cosmological Poisson equation gives ${\delta }^{\prime \prime }+\mathcal{H}{\delta }^{\prime }=3C\delta /(2y)$. The chain rule produces the displayed equation. Smoothing radiation neglects its rapid acoustic forcing after horizon entry; it is not an exact treatment of all radiation perturbations.

Neglecting curvature and dark energy, integration of the Friedmann equation for radiation in cosmology and pressureless matter gives the displayed comoving particle horizon. At matter-radiation equality, $a_{\mathrm{eq}}={\Omega }_{r,0}/{\Omega }_{m,0}$, this is $2(\sqrt{2}-1)$ times the radiation-only extrapolation $c{a}_{\mathrm{eq}}/(H_0\sqrt{{\Omega }_{r,0}})$. Its associated inverse length differs by an order-one factor from the matter-radiation equality scale $a_{\mathrm{eq}}{H}_{\mathrm{eq}}/c$.

The cosmological principle permits a Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker metric. The Friedmann equation, with vanishing cosmological constant, isFor separately conserved pressureless matter, the cosmological continuity equation gives ${\bar{\rho }}_m={\bar{\rho }}_{m0}{a}^{-3}$: its rest energy is conserved while its physical volume grows as $a^3$. Define the present critical density and matter density parameter byEvaluating the Friedmann equation today gives $-k=H_0^2(1-\Omega )>0$. Thus the model has negative spatial curvature of an FLRW universe; the second contribution to $H^2$ represents that spatial curvature of an FLRW universe, rather than another material fluid. Taking the expanding branch givesHere $0<\Omega <1$. At early times, $a\ll \Omega /(1-\Omega )$, matter domination gives $\dot{a}\simeq H_0\sqrt{\Omega }{a}^{-1/2}$, hence, measuring cosmic time from the Big Bang,At late times the $a^{-2}$ term dominates the Friedmann equation. This curvature-dominated universe has $\dot{a}\to H_0\sqrt{1-\Omega }$ and thereforeThe late expansion approaches the coasting Milne model. The early limit belongs to this idealized matter-only model; including radiation in cosmology would alter the sufficiently early evolution.

The $\nu =0$ result is the background cosmological perfect-fluid continuity equation. For a comoving region of physical volume proportional to $a^3$, it is preciselyexpressing local conservation of energy including the pressure-volume work done during cosmic expansion. A transverse vector field has no velocity divergence, and the vector spatial metric tensor has no trace perturbation, so neither produces a first-order compression or density change.

The spatial result is vector-fluid momentum dilution and integrates immediately:Thus, for any specified background perfect fluid,A statement about $\mathbf{q}$ alone does not fix the velocity scaling independently of the equation of state. For constant equation-of-state parameter $w\ne -1$, the cosmological continuity equation gives $\bar{\rho }\propto a^{-3(1+w)}$ and henceFor pressureless matter, $w=0$ and ${\mathbf{v}}_{\perp }\propto a^{-1}$, exactly as in the Newtonian calculation in part (a). For radiation in cosmology, $w=1/3$ and the vector peculiar velocity remains constant, although its momentum density still falls as $a^{-4}$. More generally, for a barotropic perfect fluid with cosmological adiabatic sound speed $c_a^2={\bar{P}}^{\prime }/{\bar{\rho }}^{\prime }$, the equivalent equation is ${\mathbf{v}}_{\perp }^{\prime }+\mathcal{H}(1-3c_a^2){\mathbf{v}}_{\perp }=0$. The Newtonian damping law describes nonrelativistic inertia; it need not apply to a relativistic perfect fluid. A pure cosmological constant has $\bar{\rho }+\bar{P}=0$ and supplies no such fluid velocity degree of freedom.

The cosmic microwave background consists of relic photons from the early hot, nearly thermal photon-baryon fluid. Before cosmological recombination, abundant free electrons repeatedly scatter photons by Thomson scattering. Their mean free path ${\lambda }_{\gamma }=(n_e{\sigma }_T{)}^{-1}$ is short and their Thomson scattering rate $n_e{\sigma }_{T}c$ is much greater than the Hubble parameter. An earlier photon therefore cannot stream directly to us: subsequent scattering repeatedly changes its direction.

As cosmic expansion cools the plasma to about $T\simeq 3000\mathrm{K}$, electrons and protons combine into neutral hydrogen. The free-electron abundance drops rapidly, the scattering optical depth to the observer becomes of order one, and photon decoupling occurs. Since the cosmic microwave background temperature scales as $T=T_0(1+z)$, with $T_0\simeq 2.725\mathrm{K}$, this occurs at $z\simeq 1100$. The small baryon-to-photon ratio delays neutralization to well below $13.6\mathrm{eV}/k_B$: the high-energy tail contains enough photons to ionize hydrogen until the temperature is much lower than the Hydrogen binding energy expressed as a temperature. The observed cosmic microwave background is primarily this pre-existing radiation undergoing its last scattering; its nearly blackbody spectrum is then preserved by cosmological redshift.

For the requested estimate take a flat matter-dominated universe, $a(t)=(t/t_0{)}^{2/3}$. Restore $c$ in distances. The comoving particle horizon at cosmological recombination and the comoving radial distance to the Cosmic microwave background last-scattering surface areThe proper particle horizon is $a_{\ast }{r}_{\mathrm{hor},\ast }=3c{t}_{\ast }$ and the angular diameter distance is $D_A=a_{\ast }{\chi }_{\ast }$. Therefore the angular particle-horizon size in a power-law universe, taking one horizon radius as the transverse length, isThe angular diameter of a patch of that radius is about $3.56^{\circ }$. The factor of two is a radius-versus-diameter convention; either gives a horizon scale of only a few degrees. This is a particle horizon, rather than the smaller sound horizon. Including early radiation in cosmology changes the numerical estimate but preserves its order of magnitude.

The horizon problem is that the cosmic microwave background has almost the same temperature across the whole sky, including pairs of regions whose past light cones do not overlap in this noninflating model. Local thermal equilibration cannot explain that observation within this history. A sufficiently long period of cosmic inflation makes the comoving Hubble radius decrease: a region once small enough to share a causal past can expand to encompass our entire observed Cosmic microwave background last-scattering surface. After reheating, it can be homogeneous across many later particle horizon patches. The matter-only estimate integrates from a decelerating Big Bang; extending the earlier history by cosmic inflation changes that causal conclusion.

The $z\simeq 0.3$ sample is expected to show the stronger late Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect correlation, for comparable galaxy bias and selection quality. In the stated flat Lambda-CDM model, neglecting radiation in cosmology,At $z\simeq 4$ the universe is nearly matter-dominated universe, $D\propto a$ and $f\simeq 1$, so the cosmological Newtonian potential $\psi \propto D/a$ is nearly constant. A photon then receives little net Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect shift. At $z\simeq 0.3$, dark energy has substantially suppressed the linear growth factor relative to $a$, so $f<1$ and the potentials decay appreciably.

For a quantitative indication, the approximation $f\simeq {\Omega }_m(z{)}^{0.55}$ gives $1-f\simeq 0.328$ at $z=0.3$ and $1-f\simeq 0.0101$ at $z=4$. Thus fractional potential evolution, $d\ln |\psi |/d\ln a=f-1$, is much larger for the nearby sample. The high-cosmological redshift matter power spectrum also has a smaller growth amplitude. The entire correlation still depends on $H$, galaxy bias, $p(z)$, and the matter power spectrum at the sampled wavenumber; redshift alone does not fix a universal numerical ratio or guarantee an ordering at every multipole. The robust expectation is

Use mass density units for the $\rho$ appearing in the Friedmann equation; an actual energy density is $\rho c^2$. Conservation, $\dot{\rho }+3H(\rho +P/c^2)=0$, gives $\boxed{{\rho }_M={\rho }_{M,0}{a}^{-3},{\rho }_R={\rho }_{R,0}{a}^{-4}}$ for pressureless matter and radiation in cosmology, respectively, with $a_0=1$. The first scaling counts dilution of particle number, while the second includes the cosmological redshift of each photon's energy.

Define the present cosmological density parameters by ${\Omega }_{X,0}=8\pi G{\rho }_{X,0}/(3H_0^2)$. ThenFor $k=0$, conformal time gives $da/d\eta =a^{2}H$, so the expanding branch obeys $(da/d\eta {)}^2=H_0^2({\Omega }_{M,0}a+{\Omega }_{R,0})$. Set $\eta =0$ at the Big Bang. Integrating givesand hence the flat matter-radiation conformal solutionThe limiting pure-radiation and pure-matter cases follow continuously.

For nonrelativistic particles the energy density is dominated by rest energy, while their isotropic kinetic pressure is approximately $p_m=nm⟨v^2⟩/3$. ThereforeThe matter pressure is negligible in this approximation, including in the gravitational combination ${\rho }_m+3p_m/c^2$. For isotropic radiation in cosmology, $E=pc$ implies one third of the energy density in each diagonal spatial stress:

Because the two fluids do not exchange energy or momentum, they are separately conserved cosmological fluids: ${\nabla }_{\alpha }{T}_i^{\alpha \beta }=0$ for each, rather than merely conservation of their sum. In a comoving volume proportional to $a^3$, the first law of thermodynamics givesEquivalently this follows by projecting the individual stress-energy conservation equation along the common comoving four-velocity. Differentiating and dividing by ${\rho }_i{c}^2{a}^3$ yieldsFor constant equation-of-state parameter $w_i$,The extra power for radiation in cosmology represents the cosmological redshift of photon energies in addition to number dilution. Differentiating the total Friedmann equation gives only the total continuity equation; the separate equations also use the stated absence of interactions between components.

The actual large-scale expansion is well described by the Lambda-CDM model: radiation in cosmology, ordinary baryonic matter, cold dark matter and late-time dark energy coexist. A component becomes dominant through continuous changes in their density ratios, rather than every previous component disappearing at an instantaneous phase boundary. Matter pressure is small in its nonrelativistic regime, but radiation persists, and massive neutrinos interpolate between relativistic and nonrelativistic behavior.

There is also a late accelerated era, absent from a model ending permanently in S3. It is consistent with nearly constant vacuum energy, whose negative pressure eventually dominates because pressureless matter dilutes as $R^{-3}$. The scale factor then ceases to follow the pure $t^{2/3}$ Einstein-de Sitter universe law.

An early phase of cosmic inflation is a well-motivated model rather than a directly observed exact $w=-1$ phase. Successful cosmic inflation must end and transfer its energy to matter and radiation through reheating; realistic models generally have slowly varying $H$ and $w$ close to, rather than exactly equal to, $-1$. Extrapolating a strictly constant $H$ to arbitrarily small $R$ is not a measurement of the universe's past duration. Finally, spatial homogeneity and cosmological isotropy apply statistically on large scales: galaxies, gravitational waves and other perturbations are absent from the exact FLRW metric, and small spatial curvature remains an observational possibility.

Normalize the scale factor to $a(t_0)=1$, use $c=1$, and define the instantaneous critical density by ${\rho }_{\mathrm{cr}}(t)=3H(t{)}^2/(8\pi G)$. Separately conserved pressureless matter and radiation in cosmology obey the cosmological continuity equation,The present cosmological density parameters areThe cosmological constant has equivalent energy density ${\rho }_{\Lambda }=\Lambda /(8\pi G)$. Substituting into the Friedmann equation yieldsAt the present epoch this gives $k=H_0^2({\Omega }_0-1)$, or curvature contribution ${\Omega }_{K0}=-k/H_0^2=1-{\Omega }_0$. Dividing each component by $H_0^2$ provesSpatial curvature is not included in the total physical-density parameter ${\Omega }_0$. In particular, positive vacuum density does not have the radiation or matter scaling.

Use cosmic time $t$ here; derivatives with respect to conformal time will be used from Question 2 onward. Conservation of pressureless matter and radiation in cosmology makes ${\rho }_m{a}^3$ and ${\rho }_r{a}^4$ constant. DefineThe Friedmann equation is a mechanical energy equation,For nonnegative dust and radiation, at least one nonzero, $V$ tends to $-\infty$ as $a\to 0$ and to $+\infty$ as $a\to \infty$, whileThus every energy line meets the potential once. An expanding solution reaches this turning point and then contracts: $a_{tt}=-V^{\prime }(a)/2<0$. The Friedmann effective potential for matter, radiation and vacuum is sketched below, alongside the positive-vacuum case.

To bound the full cosmic time from the initial zero of $a$ to its final zero, use the Friedmann acceleration equation:Put maximum expansion at $t=0$, with $a(0)=a_{\max }$ and $a_t(0)=0$. The forced-oscillator identity isUntil the first zero and for $0\le t\le \pi /(2\omega )$, the kernel is nonnegative and the bracket is nonpositive. Hence $a(t)\le a_{\max }\cos (\omega t)$, so contraction cannot remain at positive $a$ beyond $\pi /(2\omega )$. Applying the same argument backward from maximum expansion bounds the expanding half. Therefore the negative-vacuum Friedmann lifetime bound isAt either endpoint, nonzero dust or radiation has divergent density. If both are absent, the same estimate instead bounds the open Anti-de Sitter spacetime coordinate patch; its coordinate zeros are not a finite lifetime of the maximally extended vacuum spacetime.

Use units $c=1$ and take the initially expanding branch with ordinary positive matter or radiation density. In the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker metric, $k=+1,0,-1$ respectively describe positive, zero and negative spatial curvature. Separately conserved pressureless matter has ${\rho }_M\propto a^{-3}$ and radiation in cosmology has ${\rho }_R\propto a^{-4}$, so either dominates the curvature and vacuum terms sufficiently far back on a hot Big Bang branch.

With negligible cosmological constant, a spatially flat radiation universe has $a\propto t^{1/2}$ and a flat matter universe has $a\propto t^{2/3}$; both expand forever while decelerating. An open universe also expands forever and eventually becomes approximately curvature dominated, with $a\propto t$. A closed universe containing only ordinary matter/radiation reaches a maximum size and recollapses. For example, dust gives ${\dot{a}}^2=C/a-k$ with $C>0$, so only $k=+1$ admits the positive turning point $a=C$.

Curvature alone does not determine the fate when the cosmological constant is retained. Positive $\Lambda$ can cause late accelerated expansion and prevent even a closed universe from recollapsing; whether a closed expanding branch turns around depends on the relative matter and vacuum terms. Negative $\Lambda$ can cause recollapse even for flat or open spatial sections. These statements follow by inspecting ${\dot{a}}^2=C/a-k+\Lambda a^2/3$ for dust; the curvature sign is a geometrical classification, not by itself a universal destiny criterion.

Define the critical density ${\rho }_c=3H^2/(8\pi G)$ and cosmological density parameters ${\Omega }_M={\rho }_M/{\rho }_c$, ${\Omega }_R={\rho }_R/{\rho }_c$, ${\Omega }_{\Lambda }=\Lambda /(3H^2)$ and ${\Omega }_k=-k/(a^2{H}^2)$. The Friedmann equation gives ${\Omega }_M+{\Omega }_R+{\Omega }_{\Lambda }+{\Omega }_k=1$. Dividing the Friedmann acceleration equation by $-H^2$ givesConsequentlyThe deceleration parameter measures the sign and size of the acceleration relative to $a{H}^2$: $q>0$ means deceleration, $q<0$ accelerated expansion and $q=0$ instantaneously zero acceleration. In particular a falling Hubble parameter alone does not imply deceleration, since $q=-1-\dot{H}/H^2$.

For conformal time $d\eta =dt/a$, the conformal Hubble parameter is $\mathcal{H}=aH$. Using matter conservation and differentiating ${\Omega }_M\propto {\rho }_M/H^2$,This is the matter density flow with a cosmological constant. Neglecting ${\Omega }_{\Lambda }$ during matter domination reduces it to the requested relationThat last equation is not exact with nonzero $\Lambda$. For example, a flat dust-plus-vacuum state with $({\Omega }_M,{\Omega }_{\Lambda })=(0.9,0.1)$ gives ${\Omega }_M^{\prime }/\mathcal{H}=-0.27$, whereas the matter-only expression gives $-0.09$.

For the flatness problem, let ${\Omega }_{\mathrm{tot}}={\Omega }_M+{\Omega }_R+{\Omega }_{\Lambda }$. Curvature satisfies ${\Omega }_{\mathrm{tot}}-1=k/(aH{)}^2$, soIn decelerating near-flat radiation and matter eras, deviations therefore grow as $a^2$ and $a$ respectively. Maintaining small curvature at a late epoch requires very small early deviations unless a prior mechanism suppresses them. Cosmic inflation, with $q\simeq -1$, drives the deviation down approximately as $a^{-2}$. If vacuum energy is present, flatness means ${\Omega }_{\mathrm{tot}}=1$, not ${\Omega }_M=1$.

Use the spatial-potential convention of this paper and assume $\bar{\rho }+\bar{P}\ne 0$. A passive time displacement changes the spatial scalar by $\tilde{\Psi }-\Psi =\bar{N}H{\xi }^0$ and changes the energy density byThe two contributions to the uniform-density curvature perturbation therefore cancel:A spatial scalar displacement changes $E$ but not this combination. Hence $\zeta$ is gauge invariant at linear order. Pure cosmological-constant matter, for which $\bar{\rho }+\bar{P}=0$, does not supply a energy density clock and this formula is not defined for that component alone.

Now take the definite constant-$w$ barotropic equation of state and use physical-time differentiation $\mathcal{D}={\bar{N}}^{-1}{\partial }_t$. Put $A=\bar{\rho }+\bar{P}$. Background stress-energy conservation gives $\mathcal{D}A=-3H(1+w)A$. Differentiating $\zeta =-\Psi +\delta \rho /(3A)$, then substituting the two supplied perturbation equations, givesThus the lapse and expansion perturbations cancel without imposing a gauge. In terms of the non-adiabatic pressure perturbation $\delta P_{\mathrm{nad}}=\delta P-w\delta \rho$,For the stipulated barotropic equation of state, $\delta P=w\delta \rho$, so the first term vanishes. For a Fourier mode, $\Delta =-k^2/a^2$. For regular long-wavelength solutions the remaining gradients are suppressed when $k\ll aH$. Consequently $\dot{\zeta }\simeq 0$ on superhorizon scales, with exact conservation in the leading zero-gradient limit. It is not an exact finite-$k$ identity. Entropy perturbations or a singular gradient expansion can invalidate that conclusion; the supplied adiabatic assumption is what removes the unsuppressed pressure source.

This superhorizon conservation of uniform-density curvature is useful because inflationary fluctuations leave the horizon during cosmic inflation and may re-enter only much later. In an adiabatic single-clock evolution, the conserved uniform-density curvature perturbation transports their initial amplitude through reheating and the later radiation in cosmology and matter eras without solving every short-distance process. It then determines the initial conditions for large-scale structure and Cosmic microwave background anisotropy. Extra fluctuating fields or fluids can introduce isocurvature perturbations and convert them into curvature, so conservation must be checked rather than assumed during such transitions.

Let $\mathcal{H}=a^{\prime }/a$ and ${\theta }_N=i\mathbf{k}\cdot {\mathbf{v}}_N$. Choose the synchronous gauge rest frame of cold dark matter, so ${\theta }_C=0$. Its continuity equation then gives $h^{\prime }=-2{\delta }_C^{\prime }$. Substitution in the trace Einstein equation givesFor radiation in cosmology the continuity and Euler equations are ${\delta }_R^{\prime }+4{\theta }_R/3+2h^{\prime }/3=0$ and ${\theta }_R^{\prime }=k^2{\delta }_R/4$. Differentiate the first, eliminate ${\theta }_R^{\prime }$ and $h^{\prime \prime }$, and obtainradiation in cosmology pressure supplies the acoustic restoring term while its energy density contributes twice as strongly to the trace gravitational source through $1+3w_R=2$.

Deep in radiation domination, $a\propto \tau$, $\mathcal{H}=1/\tau$, ${\Omega }_R\simeq 1$ and ${\Omega }_C\simeq 0$. At long wavelengths $k\tau \ll 1$, the adiabatic initial conditions require ${\delta }_C=3{\delta }_R/4$. The cold-matter equation reduces toA power ${\tau }^p$ gives $p^2-4=0$. The regular growing solution therefore hasThe other adiabatic solution diverges as ${\tau }^{-2}$ and is discarded for the regular primordial growing mode. The relation between the density contrasts fixes their relative entropy to zero, not their subsequent equality inside the acoustic horizon.

One can also solve the leading radiation-era equations explicitly, which proves that the same regular mode develops logarithmic cold-matter growth after horizon entry. Put $x=k\tau /\sqrt{3}$. The first equation gives ${\delta }_R=(x^2{\delta }_{C,xx}+x{\delta }_{C,x})/3$. Substituting in the second givesDefineIts useful derivative is $F^{\prime }=1/x-2\sin x/x^2+2(1-\cos x)/x^3$. Direct differentiation verifies the fourth-order equation and gives the associated radiation in cosmology solution:At zero, $F=x^2/8+O(x^4)$ and ${\delta }_R=K{x}^2/6+O(x^4)$, so this is precisely the regular adiabatic radiation-era cold-dark-matter transfer solution with $K=24A/k^2$. The other indicial behaviors of the fourth-order equation are $1,x,x^{-2}$; they are either nonadiabatic at leading order or singular and do not add another regular growing adiabatic mode.

For $x\gg 1$, the integral is $\gamma +\ln x-\mathrm{Ci}(x)$, where $\gamma$ is the Euler's constant and $\mathrm{Ci}$ the cosine integral. Its oscillatory tail cancels the explicit leading $\sin x/x$ term, givingThus the requested late sound-horizon behavior isAn additive constant in ${\delta }_C$ is absorbed into the reference ${\tau }_{\ast }$; the regular adiabatic solution fixes the acoustic phase, with $D=0$ in the explicit time-origin convention above. A general acoustic mixture has both terms. The physical expansion parameter is $k\tau /\sqrt{3}$; comparisons with $2\pi /k$ describe the same long- and short-wavelength regimes up to fixed numerical factors.

The contrast grows much more slowly after entry during radiation domination: radiation in cosmology undergoes pressure-supported acoustic oscillations and cold matter only the logarithmic Mészáros effect. Modes entering well before matter-radiation equality consequently have suppressed late amplitudes relative to modes that stay outside the horizon until near equality. After matter domination begins, pressureless growing modes can grow as $a$. This scale-dependent history produces the turnover and small-scale suppression of the matter transfer function and affects the initial conditions for large-scale structure of the universe. The early subhorizon limit requires both $k\tau \gg 1$ and $\tau \ll {\tau }_{\mathrm{eq}}$; it is not applicable to a mode that enters only in the matter domination.