Casimir effect for gauge fields in spaces with negative constant curvature

We consider gauge theories based on abelian p-forms on real compact hyperbolic spaces. Using the zeta-function regularization method and the trace tensor kernel formula, we determine explicitly an expression for the vacuum energy (Casimir energy) corresponding to skew-symmetric tensor fields. It is shown that the topological component of the Casimir energy for co-exact forms on even-dimensional spaces, associated with the trivial character, is always negative. We infer on the possible cosmological consequences of this result. (orig.)