PulseExploreJournal ClubDebatesTrendingResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeExploreJournal ClubTrending
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
February 12, 2026Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences0 citationsOpen Access

The importance of GR’s principle of equivalence for kinematically determined universes and consequences for ΛCDM

HFHorst FoidlTRTanja Rindler-Daller

Key Points

  • The study aims to explore the role of the equivalence principle in kinematically determined cosmological models and its consequences for the ΛCDM framework.
  • Extended analysis of the Friedmann equation for kinematically determined universes.
  • Inclusion of the cosmic web effects in nonlinear structure formation.
  • Utilization of the Cosmic Linear Anisotropy Solving System (CLASS) for calculating expansion histories.
  • Comparison of the model predictions with the latest Planck mission data.
  • Expansion histories derived exhibit similarities to ΛCDM models.
  • Identified time-dependent equation of state for dark energy, evolving to approximately -0.9 at present.
  • Model aligns well with observations, notably the final PR4 data from the Planck mission.
  • Minor cosmic web effects may provide insight into the Hubble tension.

Abstract

The measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have determined the cosmological parameters with high accuracy, and the observation of the flatness of space has contributed to the status of the concordance Λ cold dark matter (CDM) model. However, the cosmological constant Λ , necessary to close the model to critical density, remains an open conundrum. The Einstein equations and the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) metric are the foundation of modern cosmology. While the geometric interpretation of the Einstein equations describes the action of gravity as the dynamical curvature of space by matter, the FLRW metric is built on Milne’s concept of a kinematically determined Universe. In a preceding companion article, we considered that the Friedmann equation describes the expansion history of FLRW universes in the local reference frame of freely falling comoving observers, who perceive flat, homogeneous, and isotropic space in their local inertial frame. The observed late-time accelerated expansion is then attributed to a kinematic effect akin to a dark energy component. Our approach displayed an expansion history very similar to that of Λ CDM. Now we extend our approach to nonlinear structure formation. We include the impact on the expansion history caused by the cosmic web of the late Universe, once voids dominate its volume, and find that the initially constant w d e becomes time-dependent, evolving to a value of w d e ≃ − 0.9 at the present. While this impact of voids is minor, it could provide a possible explanation for the Hubble tension. We use the Cosmic Linear Anisotropy Solving System (CLASS) to calculate the expansion history and power spectra of our extension and compare our results to concordance Λ CDM and to observations. We find that our model agrees well with current data, in particular with the final data release PR4 of the Planck mission.

Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Foidl et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/698d6d445be6419ac0d5224fhttps://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2025.1698879
Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper