Towards statistically homogeneous and isotropic perfect fluid universes with cosmic backreaction

Abstract

A method for constructing statistically homogeneous and isotropic perfect fluid universe models with significant cosmic backreaction is proposed. The method is illustrated using a simplified model constructed as a Swiss-cheese model with Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi structures. The model exhibits significant cosmic backreaction and is used to study methods proposed in the literature for relating volume averaged quantities with observations. The comparison shows a poor agreement between exact redshift-distance relations and the relations predicted by schemes based on volume averages. Most of these deviations are, however, clearly exaggerated by peculiarities of the example model, such as large local expansion rates.

35 pages, 10 captioned figures. Submitted for publication. v2: Typo in eq. 1 corrected and text added to explain figure. No changes to results. Matches publishd version