Topological structure of the vacuum, cosmological constant and dark energy

Cosmological constant and vacuum energy

The general thermodynamic analysis of the quantum vacuum, which is based on our knowledge of the vacua in condensed-matter systems, is consistent with the Einstein earlier view on the cosmological constant. In the equilibrium Universes the value of the cosmological constant is regulated by matter. In the empty Universe, the vacuum energy is exactly zero, λ = 0. The huge contribution of the zero...

Vacuum Energy and the Cosmological Constant

We discuss a numerical relation between the cosmological constant Λ [1] and the vacuum energy arising from the Casimir effect [2]. Many recent theories of the elementary particles invoke the existence of extra dimensions, beyond the familiar 4-dimensional space-time manifold. Often these extra dimensions are compact and have a finite range. In a particular model [3] the range R is of the order ...

The Cosmological Constant and Dark Energy

Physics invites the idea that space contains energy whose gravitational effect approximates that of Einstein’s cosmological constant, Λ; nowadays the concept is termed dark energy or quintessence. Physics also suggests the dark energy could be dynamical, allowing the arguably appealing picture that the dark energy density is evolving to its natural value, zero, and is small now because the expa...

Cosmological Constant and Dark Energy: Historical Insights

When did vacuum energy of the Universe become cosmological constant ?

] A quark-gluon phase transition in the Universe is researched after which vacuum (dark) energy has hardened and become cosmological constant. Before this a vacuum component of the Universe was changing by jumps during phase transitions since vacuum condensates of quantum fields carried a negative contribution in its positive density energy. This quintessence period of the Universe life took pl...