Abstract
By accepting the validity of certain conjectures in classical general relativity and kinetic theory, it is argued that, in a sense, the spatially homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmological models are unique. This is accomplished in two steps. First, there is reason to believe that kinetic theory requires perfect fluids to be shear-free. Second, it seems that general relativity constrains expanding shear-free fluids to be irrotational. The uniqueness of the FRW models then follows, since it has already been established that they are the only space-times which represent an expanding shear-free irrotational perfect fluid that are physically reasonable on a global scale.
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This essay received an honorable mention (1986) from the Gravity Research Foundation—Ed.
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Collins, C.B. How unique are the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models of the universe. Gen Relat Gravit 19, 493–497 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00760653
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00760653