Turning a Newtonian analogy for FLRW cosmology into a relativistic problem

Abstract

A Newtonian uniform ball expanding in empty space constitutes a common heuristic analogy for FLRW cosmology. We discuss possible implementations of the corresponding general-relativistic problem and a variety of new cosmological analogies arising from them. We highlight essential ingredients of the Newtonian analogy, including that the quasilocal energy is always `Newtonian' in the sense that the magnetic part of the Weyl tensor does not contribute to it. A symmetry of the Einstein-Friedmann equations produces another one in the original Newtonian system.