From: utzoo!decvax!cca!gwyn@BRL@sri-unix
Newsgroups: net.physics
Title: Re:  The Hubble Constant
Article-I.D.: sri-unix.4349
Posted: Tue Nov 23 16:59:57 1982
Received: Thu Nov 25 06:34:33 1982

From:     Doug Gwyn <gwyn@BRL>
Okay, by way of clarification:

The theories of relativity are inherently LOCAL theories, by which is
meant that the physical constraints derived from the theories apply
to the near vicinity of an observer.  To relate distant events to the
observer, some extrapolation mechanism is needed, typically path-
integration (this immediately leads to considering unified field
theory, but that is another topic).

The not-faster-than-light constraint applies to a physical object
(which can serve as the origin of an inertial system) moving past
an observer, in the vicinity of the observer.  To measure speeds a
significant distance removed from oneself, certain conventions and
assumptions must be made.  If you try to project your locally-flat
space out to cosmological (or in to Schwarzschild) distances using
Euclidean intuition, then it is easy to arrive at conclusions in
apparent violation of relativistic constraints.

The "horizon" is the naively-extrapolated distance at which (according
to the idea that the Hubble distance-velocity law holds) one thinks
that objects are moving away at the speed of light.  However, were
you to actually travel a significant percentage of this distance and
come to rest with respect to your surroundings, you would find that
the horizon has apparently receded such that you still have just as
far to go to reach it (which means, of course, that you will never
actually get there).  This paragraph is stated according to one view
of cosmology (the "perfect cosmological principle" DeSitter universe,
which is the simplest solution to the Schrodinger field laws).

There are actually several peripherally-related matters of interest
involved here:
1)  The not-faster-than-light injunction;
2)  Extrapolation away from the local environment;
3)  Integration of differential field laws;
4)  Perfect cosmological principle;
5)  Einstein-Schrodinger unified field theory.
I am willing to discuss these further if you have a particular interest.