The cosmological constant problem and quintessence

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/19/13/304zbMATH Open1003.83049arXivastro-ph/0202076OpenAlexW3125627243WikidataQ56039953 ScholiaQ56039953MaRDI QIDQ4550167FDOQ4550167

Varun Sahni

Publication date: 2 February 2003

Published in: Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: I briefly review the cosmological constant problem and the issue of dark energy (or quintessence). Within the framework of quantum field theory, the vacuum expectation value of the energy momentum tensor formally diverges as $k^4$. A cutoff at the Planck or electroweak scale leads to a cosmological constant which is, respectively, $10^{123}$ or $10^{55}$ times larger than the observed value, $l/8piGsimeq10^{-47}$ GeV${}^4$. The absence of a fundamental symmetry which could set the value of $l$ to either zero or a very small value leads to {em the cosmological constant problem}. Most cosmological scenario's favour a large time-dependent $l$-term in the past (in order to generate inflation at $zgg10^{10}$), and a small $l$-term today, to account for the current acceleration of the universe at $zlleq1$. Constraints arising from cosmological nucleosynthesis, CMB and structure formation constrain $l$ to be sub-dominant during most of the intermediate epoch $10^{10}<z<1$. This leads to the {em cosmic coincidence} conundrum which suggests that the acceleration of the universe is a recent phenomenon and that we live during a special epoch when the density in $l$ and in matter are almost equal. Time varying models of dark energy can, to a certain extent, ameliorate the fine tuning problem (faced by $l$), but do not resolve the puzzle of cosmic coincidence. I briefly review tracker models of dark energy, as well as more recent brane inspired ideas and the issue of horizons in an accelerating universe. Model independent methods which reconstruct the cosmic equation of state from supernova observations are also assessed. Finally, a new diagnostic of dark energy -- `Statefinder', is discussed.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0202076

zbMATH Keywords

dark energyquintessencevacuum expectation valuequantum field theorycosmological constant problem

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Relativistic gravitational theories other than Einstein's, including asymmetric field theories (83D05) Relativistic cosmology (83F05) Observational and experimental questions in relativity and gravitational theory (83B05)

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