Matter Matters: Unphysical Properties of the Rh = ct Universe
  It is generally agreed that there is matter in the universe and, in this
paper, we show that the existence of matter is extremely problematic for the
proposed Rh = ct universe. Considering a dark energy component with an equation
of state of w=-1/3, it is shown that the presence of matter destroys the strict
expansion properties that define the evolution of Rh = ct cosmologies,
distorting the observational properties that are touted as its success. We
further examine whether an evolving dark energy component can save this form of
cosmological expansion in the presence of matter by resulting in an expansion
consistent with a mean value of <w> = -1/3, finding that the presence of mass
requires unphysical forms of the dark energy component in the early universe.
We conclude that matter in the universe significantly limits the fundamental
properties of the Rh = ct cosmology, and that novel, and unphysical, evolution
of the matter component would be required to save it. Given this, Rh = ct
cosmology is not simpler or more accurate description of the universe than
prevailing cosmological models, and its presentation to date possesses
significant flaws.
