Zeldovich Approximation

The Zeldovich Approximation is a method used in cosmology to predict how small initial irregularities in the universe’s matter distribution evolve over time. It estimates how particles of matter move under gravitational attraction, transforming an initial universe of nearly uniform matter into a structured one with galaxies and clusters. By calculating the initial positions and how gravity causes matter to shift, it provides a simplified way to model large-scale structures in the universe without complex simulations. This approximation is useful for understanding the early stages of cosmic structure formation.