Cosmological nonlinear hydrodynamics with post-Newtonian corrections

Abstract

The post-Newtonian (PN) approximation, based on the assumptions of weak gravitational fields and slow motions, provides a way to estimate general relativistic effects in the fully nonlinear evolution stage of the large-scale cosmic structures. We extend Chandrasekhar's first order PN (1PN) hydrodynamics based on the Minkowski background to the Robertson-Walker background. We assume the presence of Friedmann's cosmological spacetime as a background. In the background we include the three-space curvature, the cosmological constant and general pressure. In the Newtonian order and 1PN order we include general pressure, stress, and flux. The Newtonian hydrodynamic equations appear naturally in the 0PN order. The spatial gauge degree of freedom is fixed in a unique manner and the basic equations are arranged without taking the temporal gauge condition. In this way we can conveniently try alternative temporal gauge conditions. We investigate a number of temporal gauge conditions under which all the remaining variables are equivalently gauge-invariant. Our aim is to present the fully nonlinear 1PN equations in a form suitable for implementation in conventional Newtonian hydrodynamic simulations with minimal extensions. The 1PN terms can be considered as relativistic corrections added to the well known Newtonian equations. The proper arrangement of the variables and equations in combination with suitable gauge conditions would allow the possible future 1PN cosmological simulations to become more tractable. Our equations and gauges are arranged for that purpose. We suggest ways of controlling the numerical accuracy. The typical 1PN order terms are about $10^{-6} \sim 10^{-4}$ times smaller than the Newtonian terms.