Second-order perturbations of a zero-pressure cosmological medium: Proofs of the relativistic-Newtonian correspondence

Abstract

The dynamic world model and its linear perturbations were first studied in Einstein's gravity. In the system without pressure, the relativistic equations coincide exactly with the later known ones in Newton's gravity. Here we prove that, except for the gravitational wave contribution, even to the second-order perturbations, equations for the relativistic irrotational zero-pressure fluid in a flat Friedmann background coincide exactly with the previously known Newtonian equations. Thus, to the second order, we correctly identify the relativistic density and velocity perturbation variables, and we expand the range of applicability of the Newtonian medium without pressure to all cosmological scales including the superhorizon scale. In the relativistic analyses, however, we do not have a relativistic variable which corresponds to the Newtonian potential to the second order. Mixed usage of different gauge conditions is useful to make such proofs and to examine the result with perspective. We also present the gravitational wave equation to the second order. Since our correspondence includes the cosmological constant, our results are relevant to currently favored cosmology. Our result has an important practical implication that one can use the large-scale Newtonian numerical simulation more reliably even as the simulation scale approaches near horizon.