Effect of intergalactic dust on the measurement of the cosmological deceleration parameter qo

Abstract

In a recent attempt to explain the cosmic microwave background without the big bang, a thermalization mechanism involving intergalactic whisker grains of graphite was proposed. The effect of absorption by the intergalactic medium in general, and of the above type in particular, on the measurement of the deceleration parameter q0 of the expanding universe is discussed. Its effect is shown to be comparable in magnitude but opposite to that of the luminosity evolution in galaxies. A consequential selection effect is also discussed.