Was there more galaxy clustering in early Universe?

In summary, the expansion of the Universe does have an impact on clustering but it is not a simple relationship. The rate of expansion affects the amount of mass and size needed for a region to collapse, resulting in potentially smaller and more spread out galaxies in a faster expanding universe.
  • #1
SteveDC
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Has the expansion of the Universe caused less clustering? If the expanding Universe is causing volume of space to increase, to me it would make sense that clustering would be impacted as a result of this.
 
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  • #2
No, there's more clustering.
 
  • #3
SteveDC said:
Has the expansion of the Universe caused less clustering? If the expanding Universe is causing volume of space to increase, to me it would make sense that clustering would be impacted as a result of this.
If there wasn't at least some expansion, then there'd be no clustering at all as the universe would just have recollapsed on itself.

The rate of expansion does have an impact on clustering, but it's not terribly simple. In essence, in an expanding universe, an overdense region will collapse in on itself if it has enough mass relative to its size. If it's too spread out, it won't collapse. If it doesn't have enough mass, it won't collapse. With a faster rate of expansion, it needs more mass or a smaller size to collapse.

So all other things being equal, in a universe that is expanding faster you'll get less massive galaxies that are further away from one another.
 

Related to Was there more galaxy clustering in early Universe?

Frequently Asked Questions about "Was there more galaxy clustering in early Universe?"

1. What is galaxy clustering and why is it important to study in the early universe?

Galaxy clustering refers to the tendency of galaxies to group together in certain regions of the universe. It is important to study in the early universe as it can provide insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies, as well as the structure and dynamics of the universe.

2. How do scientists measure galaxy clustering in the early universe?

Scientists use a variety of techniques to measure galaxy clustering in the early universe, including statistical analyses of the distribution of galaxies in different regions of the universe, as well as observations of redshift and cosmic microwave background radiation.

3. What evidence suggests that there was more galaxy clustering in the early universe?

Studies of the cosmic microwave background radiation, as well as observations of galaxy clusters and large-scale structures, have suggested that the early universe was more densely clustered than it is today. This is supported by the theory of cosmic inflation, which suggests that the universe underwent a rapid period of expansion in its early stages.

4. What does the presence of increased galaxy clustering in the early universe indicate about the evolution of the universe?

The increased galaxy clustering in the early universe suggests that the distribution of matter was more uniform in the early stages of the universe's evolution. This supports the idea that the universe began as a hot, dense, and uniform state and has been expanding and evolving ever since.

5. How does studying galaxy clustering in the early universe help us understand the fundamental laws of physics?

By studying the distribution of galaxies in the early universe, scientists can gain a better understanding of the fundamental laws of physics that govern the formation and evolution of galaxies and the universe as a whole. This can provide insights into topics such as dark matter, dark energy, and the nature of gravity.

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