The volume expansion rate and the age of the Universe

Context. In relativistic inhomogeneous cosmology, structure formation couples to average cosmological expansion. A conservative approach to modelling this assumes an Einstein-de Sitter model (EdS) at early times and extrapolates this forward in cosmological time as a “background model” against which average properties of today’s Universe can be measured. Aims. This modelling requires adopting an early-epoch-normalised background Hubble constant Hbg1. Methods. Here, we show that the ΛCDM model can be used as an observational proxy to estimate Hbg1 rather than choose it arbitrarily. We assume (i) an EdS model at early times; (ii) a zero dark energy parameter; (iii) bi-domain scalar averaging-division of the spatial sections into over- and underdense regions; and (iv) virialisation (stable clustering) of collapsed regions. Results. We find Hbg1= 37.7 ± 0.4 km s-1/ Mpc (random error only) based on a Planck ΛCDM observational proxy. Conclusions. Moreover, since the scalar-averaged expansion rate is expected to exceed the (extrapolated) background expansion rate, the expected age of the Universe should be much younger than 2/(3Hbg1) = 17.3 Gyr. The maximum stellar age of Galactic bulge microlensed low-mass stars (most likely: 14.7 Gyr; 68% confidence: 14.0–15.0 Gyr) suggests an age of about a Gyr older than the (no-backreaction) ΛCDM estimate.

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Influence of Zinc Particles on Oxidation Resistance of Diamond/Borosilicate Glass Composites

Solid State Phenomena ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.175.8 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 175 ◽

pp. 8-12

Author(s):

Yan Hui Wang ◽

Xiang Hong Zhang ◽

Jian Bing Zang ◽

Xiao Zhe Cheng ◽

Jin Hui Zhang

Keyword(s):

Borosilicate Glass ◽

Volume Expansion ◽

Bending Strength ◽

Expansion Rate ◽

Sintering Process ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Glass Composites ◽

Zn Content ◽

Strength Tests ◽

Volume Expansion Rate

Oxidization of diamond in the sintering process of diamond/borosilicate glass composites would result in low compressive fracture strength (CFS) of the grit and uncontrolled expansion with many irregular pores in the composites, causing low bending strength of the tools. In this paper diamond/borosilicate glass composites were prepared by cold pressing and sintering at 850 C for 120 min in air. An active element Zn was incorporated into the composites in order to resolve the above issues. The effects of Zn contents on the properties of the composites was investigated by the bending strength tests, the volume expansion rate tests, differential scanning calorimeter test (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed Zn was oxidized and then converted to ZnAl2O4 and Zn2SiO4 phases during sintering. The bending strength improved and the expansion phenomenon was inhibited for the composites with various Zn additions. The maximum bending strength and minimum volume expansion rate were obtained for the composite GZ8. This Zn content resulted in a decrease of volume expansion rate from 8.57% to -20.53%, and an increase in bending strength from 28.49 MPa to 74.02 MPa compared with the composite GZ0. The CFS results of the diamond grits separated from GZ0 and GZ8 was 21N and 26N, respectively.

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