On the binding energy of primeval fluctuations

The evolution of the binding energy of spherical adiabatic density perturbations of Friedmann universes is investigated. It is found that the binding energy oscillates after a clump enters the Jeans length, but at 900 out of phase with the density contrast, in the radiation-dominated era. The implications of this and other results for the nature of the primeval fluctuation spectrum are discussed. (author)