https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14157-2
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
A bonafide model of structure formation from gravitational collapse
1
International Centre for Space and Cosmology, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, 380009, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
2
Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications, 101408, Beijing, China
3
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, B3H 3J5, Halifax, NS, Canada
Received:
9
August
2024
Accepted:
6
April
2025
Published online:
6
May
2025
This paper explores the cosmological implications of a scalar field with a specific potential, crucial for achieving the final equilibrium state of gravitational collapse. We consider a system with two fluids: minimally coupled matter representing dust-like dark matter and a scalar field acting as dark energy. Our model, akin to the top-hat collapse model, focuses on isolated over-dense regions within a closed FLRW metric, while the background follows a flat FLRW metric. We analyze spacetime configurations where these regions undergo initial expansion followed by contraction, deriving the scalar field potential responsible for their equilibrium state. Our fully relativistic approach offers a comprehensive understanding of stable cosmic over-dense regions, without the need for ad-hoc Newtonian virialization.
© The Author(s) 2025
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