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Nonsingularity of Flat Robertson–Walker Models in the Special Relativistic Approach to Einstein's Equations

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Abstract

Recently the neglected issue of the causal structure in the flat space-time approach to Einstein's theory of gravity has been substantially resolved. Consistency requires that the flat metric's null cone be respected by the null cone of the effective curved metric. While consistency is not automatic, thoughtful use of the naive gauge freedom resolves the problem. After briefly recapitulating how consistent causality is achieved, we consider the flat Robertson–Walker Big Bang model. The Big Bang singularity in the spatially flat Robertson–Walker cosmological model is banished to past infinity in Minkowski space-time. A modified notion of singularity is proposed to fit the special relativistic approach, so that the Big Bang becomes nonsingular.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mathematics Department, St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas, 78704

    J. Brian Pitts

  2. Program in History and Philosophy of Science and Department of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556

    J. Brian Pitts

  3. The Ilya Prigogine Center for Studies in Statistical Mechanics and Complex Systems, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712

    J. Brian Pitts & W. C. Schieve

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  1. J. Brian Pitts
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  2. W. C. Schieve
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Pitts, J.B., Schieve, W.C. Nonsingularity of Flat Robertson–Walker Models in the Special Relativistic Approach to Einstein's Equations. Foundations of Physics 33, 1315–1321 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025641327666

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025641327666

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