Apparent Acceleration and an Alternative Concordance from Causal Backreaction

Abstract

A phenomenological formalism is presented in which the apparent acceleration of the universe is generated by cosmic structure formation, without resort to Dark Energy, modifications to gravity, or a local void. The observed acceleration results from the combined effect of innumerable local perturbations due to individually virializing systems, overlapping together in a smoothly-inhomogeneous adjustment of the FRW metric, in a process governed by the causal flow of inhomogeneity information outward from each clumped system. After noting how common arguments claiming to limit backreaction are physically unrealistic, models are presented which fit the supernova luminosity distance data essentially as well as $\Lambda$CDM, while bringing several important cosmological parameters to a new Concordance. These goals are all achieved with a second-generation version of our formalism that accounts for the negative feedback of Causal Backreaction upon itself due to the slowed propagation of gravitational inhomogeneity information.