The redshift dependence of bolometric surface brightness as evidence for a network of cosmic strings

The title of the popular article “Universe is Not Expanding After All, Controversial Study Suggest” is quite provocative. The article tells about the findings of Lerner et al described in the article “UV surface brightness of galaxies from the local universe to z ≈ 5″.

It seems that the bolometric surface brightness of identical spiral galaxies defined as the radiation power per area and solid angle depends only weakly on distance. In the Einsteinian Universe this favors steady state Universe. This is in conflict with the recent view of cosmology having a strong empirical support.

The general relativity (GRT) based cosmology predicts that the luminosity decreases as (1+z)^-4 and therefore very rapidly. One factor of (1+z)^-1 comes time dilation reducing the emission rate. Second (1+z)^-1 comes from the cosmic redshift. A factor of (1+z)^-2 comes from the fact that the apparent size as the area spanned by the source has decreased since the emission by cosmic expansion so that the apparent size is now by a factor (1+z)² larger at the moment of emission. If the cosmic redshift is caused by some other mechanism instead of expansion, steady state cosmology explains the findings satisfactorily.

In the TGD Universe, galaxies are nodes of a  network formed from cosmic strings thickened to flux tubes. The light from the galaxy from A to B travels only along the flux tubes connecting the source to the receiver. These flux tubes can stretch but the amount of light arriving B  remains the same irrespective of distance. In the  Einsteinian space-time this kind of channeling would not happen and the intensity would decrease like 1/distance squared.   In the TGD Universe this mechanism would give rise  to a compensating factor (1+z)²  so that the dependence of the BS  on redshift would be (1+z)^-2, while the  BS in the static Einsteinian Universe would be (1+z)^-1. For z ≈ 5, the  TGD prediction for BS is by  by a factor of 1/6 smaller than for static Universe whereas the GRT prediction is by a factor 1/196 smaller.

The article at TGD view of the engine powering jets from active galactic nuclei provides a model for how galactic jets would correspond to this kind of flux tube connections.

See also the articles Cosmic string model for the formation of galaxies and stars and TGD view about quasars.

For a summary of earlier postings see Latest progress in TGD.

Articles and other material related to TGD.