# Clarifications about distances in cosmology

I would like to get clarifications about some usual notions of distances in cosmoogy.

1. First, the comoving distance is the current distance of objets whose light has been reached by us now, i.e regards to the cosmic time ? OR is it the same with redshift dependent ? if yes, this comoving distance is simply the angular diameter distance, isn't it ?

2. The angular diameter distance $$D_A$$ is the distance from observer to an object starting to emmit and such taht the light is reaching us now ?

3. The comoving distance transverse of an object is the size of object in 2D plane. From the following link : distances in cosmology

It is written :

5) Comoving distance (transverse) The comoving distance between two events at the same redshift or distance but separated on the sky by some angle $$\delta \theta$$ is $$D_{\mathrm{M}} \delta \theta$$ and the transverse comoving distance $$D_{\mathrm{M}}$$ (so-denoted for a reason explained below) is simply related to the line-of-sight comoving distance $$D_{\mathrm{C}}$$ : $$D_{\mathrm{M}}=\left\{\begin{array}{ll} D_{\mathrm{H}} \frac{1}{\sqrt{\Omega_{k}}} \sinh \left[\sqrt{\Omega_{k}} D_{\mathrm{C}} / D_{\mathrm{H}}\right] & \text { for } \Omega_{k}>0 \\ D_{\mathrm{C}} & \text { for } \Omega_{k}=0 \\ D_{\mathrm{H}} \frac{1}{\sqrt{\left|\Omega_{k}\right|}} \sin \left[\sqrt{\left|\Omega_{k}\right|} D_{\mathrm{C}} / D_{\mathrm{H}}\right] & \text { for } \Omega_{k}<0 \end{array}\right.$$

with $$D_H=\dfrac{c}{H_0}$$

1. 6 Angular diameter distance The angular diameter distance $$D_{\mathrm{A}}$$ is defined as the ratio of an object's physical transverse size to its angular size (in radians). It is used to convert angular separations in telescope images into proper separations at the source. It is famous for not increasing indefinitely as $$z \rightarrow \infty ;$$ it turns over at $$z \sim 1$$ and thereafter more distant objects actually appear larger in angular size. Angular diameter distance is related to the transverse comoving distance by $$D_{\mathrm{A}}=\frac{D_{\mathrm{M}}}{1+z}$$

Question 1) in the part 1) they define the comoving distance by :

$$D_{\mathrm{C}}=D_{\mathrm{H}} \int_{0}^{z} \frac{d z^{\prime}}{E\left(z^{\prime}\right)}$$

But this is not the physical distance. Indeed, we need to multiply $$D_{\mathrm{C}}$$ by $$R(t=0)=R_0$$ to get the physical diatance between us and the object, don't we ?

Question 2) I don't understand in the text above why they say that "but separated on the sky by some angle $$\delta\theta$$ is $$D_M\delta\theta$$ and the transverse comoving distance $$D_M$$ is simply related to the line-of-sight comoving distance $$D_{\mathrm{C}}$$.

Should it be rather the current size of object is equal to $$D_C\,\delta\theta$$, i.e the comoving distance multiplied by the $$\delta\theta$$ ?, like we do in trigonometry for computing a portion $$\delta\theta$$ of circle perimeter.

Question 3) Concerning the angular diameter distance, why could we rather take the ratio cosmological_horizon/1+z instead of the ratio $$\dfrac{D_{\mathrm{M}}}{1+z}$$ ? Indeed, angular diameter distance is the distance at z given between the observer and the object emitting.

I make confusions between comoving distance transverse and angular diameter distance as well as comoving distance (coordinates or physical distance with the factor $$R(t)$$ ?)

I hope to have been clear. Any help is welcome.

• Try to look James Rich-Fundementals of Cosmology 2nd Edition chapter 3. It will answer most of your questions. I want to give an answer but it will be too long to write.If you still feel confused after looking the book or you want a full answer let me know. Or maybe someone else from here can help. – Layla Oct 25 '20 at 13:52
• Here $D_M \equiv S_k(\chi) \equiv r$ where $$S_k(\chi) = \begin{cases} sinh(\chi) & k= -1 \\ \chi & k = 0 \\ sin(\chi) & k = +1 \end{cases}$$ – Layla Oct 25 '20 at 13:54
• @Layla Thanks. Do you agree that it could bring confusions by calling $D_M$ a "transverse" comoving transverse, don't you ?. The transverse size is rather $D_M\,\delta\theta$ as I said in the trigonometry case,portion $l$ of perimeter is equal to $l=R\,\delta\,\theta$ with $R$ the radius of the circle : could you validate this point ? Regards – youpilat13 Oct 25 '20 at 14:59
• Its confusing yes..I really dont like the Hogg's article about this topic. Especially if you are new to these concepts. – Layla Oct 25 '20 at 16:39
• Isn't really anyone who can clarify my questions ? Best regards – youpilat13 Feb 19 at 9:45