Light propagation and the distance-redshift relation in a realistic inhomogeneous universe
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki 036, Japan (JP)
- NASA/Fermilab Astrophysics Center, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510 Research Institute for Theoretical Physics, Hiroshima University, Takehara, Hiroshima 725, Japan
We investigate the propagation of light rays in a clumpy universe constructed by a cosmological version of the post-Newtonian approximation. We show that the linear approximation to the propagation equations is valid in the region {ital z}{approx lt}1 even if the density contrast is much larger than unity. Based on a general order-of-magnitude statistical consideration, we argue that the linear approximation is still valid for {ital z}{approx gt}1. Then we give a general formula for the distance-redshift relation in a clumpy universe and derive an explicit expression for a simplified situation in which the effect of the gravitational potential of inhomogeneities dominates. In the light of the derived relation we discuss the validity of the Dyer-Roeder distance. Furthermore, we consider a simple model of an inhomogeneous universe and investigate statistical properties of light rays. We find that the result of this specific example also supports the validity of the linear approximation.
- OSTI ID:
- 5250540
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review (Section) D: Particles and Fields; (USA), Vol. 40:8; ISSN 0556-2821
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
UNIVERSE
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
RED SHIFT
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
METRICS
SPACE-TIME
STATISTICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
640106* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmology
657003 - Theoretical & Mathematical Physics- Relativity & Gravitation