Gravitational vacuum energy in our recently accelerating universe
Description
We review current observations of the homogeneous cosmological expansion which, because they measure only kinematic variables, cannot determine the dynamics driving the recent accelerated expansion. The minimal fit to the data, the flat ACDM model, consisting of cold dark matter and a cosmological constant, interprets 4? geometrically as a classical spacetime curvature constant of nature, avoiding any reference to quantum vacuum energy. (The observed Uehling and Casimir effects measure forces due to QED vacuum polarization, but not any quantum material vacuum energies.) An Extended Anthropic Principle, that Dark Energy and Dark Gravity be indistinguishable, selects out flat ACDM. Prospective cosmic shear and galaxy clustering observations of the growth of fluctuations are intended to test whether the 'dark energy' driving the recent cosmological acceleration is static or moderately dynamic. Even if dynamic, observational differences between an additional negative-pressure material component within general relativity (Dark Energy) and low-curvature modifications of general relativity (Dark Gravity) will be extremely small.
Availability note (English)
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/161/1/012026Additional details
Identifiers
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Journal of Physics. Conference Series (Online)
- Journal Volume
- 161
- Journal Issue
- 1
- Journal Page Range
- [3 p.]
- ISSN
- 1742-6596
Conference
- Title
- International workshop on 60 years of the Casimir effect
- Dates
- 23-27 Jun 2008
- Place
- Brasilia, DF (Brazil)
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United Kingdom
- Country of Input or Organization
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- INIS RN
- 41103520
- Subject category
- S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
- Resource subtype / Literary indicator
- Conference
- Descriptors DEI
- COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT; GALAXY CLUSTERS; GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY; GRAVITATION; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS; SPACE-TIME; UNIVERSE; VACUUM POLARIZATION
- Descriptors DEC
- ELECTRODYNAMICS; FIELD THEORIES; MATTER; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; RELATIVITY THEORY