Cosmological constant

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Author: Dr. Tamara Davis, The DARK Cosmology Centre



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In the context of cosmology the cosmological constant is a homogeneous energy density that causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate. Originally proposed early in the development of general relativity in order to allow a static universe solution it was subsequently abandoned when the universe was found to be expanding. Now the cosmological constant is invoked to explain the observed acceleration of the expansion of the universe. The cosmological constant is the simplest realization of dark energy, which is the more generic name given to the unknown cause of the acceleration of the universe. Its existence has also been predicted by quantum theory, where it enters as a form of vacuum energy, although the magnitude predicted does not match that observed in cosmology.


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History

The cosmological constant first appeared in a 1917 paper by Einstein entitled "Cosmological Considerations in the General Theory of Relativity" (Einstein 1917), in which he motivates its introduction into the field theory of general relativity by the need to stabilize the universe against the attractive effect of gravity:

"The term is necessary only for the purpose of making possible a quasi-static distribution of matter, as required by the fact of the small velocities of the stars" (Einstein 1917).

At the time, observations of our universe were limited primarily to stars in our own galaxy, so there was indeed observational evidence justifying the assumption that the universe was static.

The need to stabilize the equations of general relativity against expansion or collapse was pointed out by both Friedmann cite and Lemaître cite. After Einstein proposed the cosmological constant Lemaître cite and Eddington cite independently showed that this solution was not stable. These results could be considered a prediction that the universe must be expanding or contracting, a remarkable implication of general relativity that was later borne out by observation.

In the intervening years the cosmological constant came in and out of vogue as new observational results repeatedly seemed to require it, but then were explained in other ways.

As of the early 1990's there were tantalising hints that the cosmological constant might again be needed. The universe appeared to be younger than the oldest stars it contained, a feature that was remedied if the universe was currently in an accelerating phase. Number counts of galaxies indicated that the volume contained within a solid angle at high redshift were larger than expected in a decelerating universe. Theoretical arguments from inflation and later observational results from the cosmic microwave background indicated that the universe should be flat but observations of large scale structure indicated that the matter density was inadequate to achieve this - vacuum energy could make up the shortfall.

This set the stage for the discovery of the accelerating universe by two teams in 1998/1999. The High-Z supernova team and the Supernova Cosmology project both discovered that high-redshift supernovae were fainter than expected for a decelerating universe and that the difference could be explained if there was a cosmological constant of just the right magnitude needed for a flat universe.

This was a dramatic convergence of observation and theory. Since then increasingly accurate probes have confirmed to high precision the need for dark energy, but the nature of the dark energy is now the quality being discussed. To the current (2008) precision the measured properties of dark energy remain consistent with those of a cosmological constant. However, massive observing efforts are underway to test whether this is the correct explanation for the acceleration or whether some other sort of dark energy, perhaps one that changes with time or one that is motivated by some form of quantum gravity, is needed to explain the acceleration we see.

Greatest Blunder

Einstein is often quoted as claiming, after it was shown that the universe was expanding, that introducing the cosmological constant was his greatest blunder. This quote comes from a reference by Gamow in his autobiography (Gamow 1970).

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The physics of the cosmological constant

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Einstein Field Equations

The cosmological constant \Lambda can enter into the field equations of general relativity as a geometrical factor

R_{\mu\nu}-\frac{R}{2}g_{\mu\nu}+g_{\mu\nu}\Lambda = \frac{8\pi G}{c^4}T_{\mu\nu}

or equivalently it can be absorbed into the stress-energy-momentum tensor on the right hand side and act as another energy-density component of the universe, i.e. vacuum energy.

\rho_{\Lambda}=\frac{\Lambda c^2}{8\pi G}

Where g_{\mu\nu} is the metric tensor, R_{\mu\nu} is the Ricci curvature, and T_{\mu\nu} is the stress-energy-momentum tensor (Carroll 1992).

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Cosmology

In an homogeneous, isotropic universe the geometry is defined by the Friedamnn-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker metric (FLRW metric) and the dynamics of the universe are governed by the Friedmann equations (Friedmann equations). The dynamics are driven by the energy content of the universe and the equation of state of the components that make up the energy density. The equation of state relates density \rho to pressure p according to w = p/\rho. The cosmological constant enters these equations in the following way, where a is the scalefactor of the universe normalized to 1 at the present day, H=\dot{a}/a is Hubble's constant (an overdot represents differentiation with respect to time), G is the gravitational constant, and k is the curvature of the universe given by +1, 0, and -1 for positive, flat, and negative curvature respectively.

(1)
H^2 = \left(\frac{\dot{a}}{a}\right)^2 = \frac{8\pi G}{3}\rho - \frac{k}{a^2} +\frac{\Lambda}{3}
(2)
\frac{\ddot{a}}{a}=-\frac{4\pi G}{3}(\rho + 3p) + \frac{\Lambda}{3}

These equations are more concisely written by considering the cosmological constant as a form of vacuum energy, so \Lambda c^2=8\pi G \rho_\Lambda. Then Eqs. 1 and 2 become

(3)
H^2 = \frac{8\pi G}{3}\sum_i \rho_i
(4)
\frac{\ddot{a}}{a}=-\frac{4\pi G}{3}(\rho_i + 3p_i)

The different components have different equations of state, which determines how their density changes with the expansion of the universe:

(5)
\rho_i = \rho_{i0} a^{-3(1+w_i)}

Pressureless matter has w=0, radiation has w=1/3, curvature has an effective w=-1/3, cosmological constant has w=-1. (We have used w_\Lambda=-1, which implies \rho_\Lambda + 3p_\Lambda = -2\rho_\Lambda in deriving Eq. 4.)

The current energy density of each component, \rho_{i0}, is often represented as a fraction of the critical density, \rho_{\rm c}=3H_0^2/8\pi G, which is the energy density required to close the universe (also calculated at the present day). Denoting this \Omega_i = \rho_{i0}/\rho_{\rm c} and using Eq. 5 allows us to write

(6)
H^2 = H_0^2\sum_i \frac{\rho_i}{\rho_{c}} = H_0^2\sum_i\Omega_i a^{-3(1+w_i)}

In an homogeneous universe there are no pressure gradients, so a positive pressure does no work and has no expanding effect. On the contrary, in general relativity all forms of energy gravitate so pressure effectively pulls, strengthening the attractive force of gravity (thus the factor of p in Eq. 2, which does not appear in Newtonian gravity). The cosmological constant has negative pressure, w=-1, so its general relativistic contribution counteracts the normal force of gravity and provides an outwards acceleration.


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Vacuum energy

Vacuum energy arises naturally in quantum mechanics due to the uncertainty principle. In particle physics the vacuum refers to the ground state of the theory --- the lowest energy configuration. The uncertainty principle does not allow states of exactly zero energy, even in vacuum (virtual particles are created). Since in general relativity all forms of energy gravitate, this ground state vacuum energy impacts the dynamics of the expansion of the universe.

Moreover, vacuum energy has \rho_{\rm vac}=-p_{\rm vac} so the equation of state of vacuum energy is exactly that of a cosmological constant w_{\rm vac}=w_\Lambda = -1.

The expected magnitude of the vacuum energy can be estimated based on a sum over the modes available to the vacuum. However, this naïve prediction of the magnitude of vacuum energy is about 120 orders of magnitude from the measured cosmological value. This is known as the cosmological constant problem.

For an elaboration on these topics see Carroll (1992).


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Observational evidence

Evidence for the accelerating universe includes (see review by Frieman, Turner and Huterer 2008):

  • Number counts of galaxies.
  • The age of the universe.
  • The observed flatness of the universe despite insufficient matter.
  • The faintness of distant supernovae (0<z<0.5)
  • The relative brightness of extremely distant supernovae (z>0.5).


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Unresolved issues

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Cosmological Constant Problem

The cosmological constant problem arises because quantum field theory predicts a value of the vacuum energy far in excess of the cosmological constant value measured in cosmology. Quantum mechanical calculations that sum the contributions from all vacuum modes below an ultraviolet cutoff at the Planck scale give a vacuum energy density of \rho_\Lambda\sim10^{112} {\rm erg/cm}^3. This exceeds the cosmologically observed value of \rho_\Lambda\sim10^{-8} {\rm erg/cm}^3 by about 120 orders of magnitude. See Carroll (2004), Section 4.5.

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Coincidence Problem

The cosmological constant is not diluted as the universe expands, whereas the density of matter drops in inverse proportion to the volume. This means that there is only a fleeting moment of cosmological time during which the matter density will be of comparable magnitude to the vacuum energy density. The fact that we appear to be living in that moment seems too unlikely to be coincidence. This has been called the coincidence problem, and has motivated theories beyond the cosmological constant with more general forms of dark energy that may change with time.

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Dark energy or cosmological constant

These unresolved issues have motivated the current observational effort to test whether the cosmological constant is a valid cause of the acceleration of the universe. Other theories, such as fledgling theories of quantum gravity (e.g. brane-motivated cosmologies), naturally produce dark energy candidates with properties different from the standard cosmological constant. Phenomenological theories such as quintessence have also been proposed, which have a time-varying value of dark energy that traces the energy density and thus naturally solves the coincidence problem.

Dark energy also encompasses the possibility that there is no additional energy density component to the universe, but rather that the equations of general relativity need revision. In this sense general relativity might be a limit of a more complete theory of gravity in the same way that Newtonian gravity is a low-energy limit of general relativity. This possibility is also known as dark gravity.


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References

  • Carroll, Press (1992). The cosmological constant Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics 30: 499-542.
  • Carroll, Sean (2004). Spacetime and Geometry. Addison Wesley, San Francisco, CA. 171-174
  • Einstein, Albert (1917). Kosmologische Betrachtungen zur allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie (Cosmological Considerations in the General Theory of Relativity) Koniglich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Sitzungsberichte VOLUMEWITHNUMBER: 142–152.
    • For an English translation see Einstein, Albert (1997). The collected papers of Albert Einstein (Alfred Engel, translator) Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.
  • Frieman, Josh; Turner, Michael and Huterer, Dragan (2008). Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics 46: 385-432. arXiv:0803.0982
  • Gamov, George (1970). My World Line. Viking, New York. 44 Check citation


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Further reading


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External links


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See also

Dark energy, Vacuum energy, Friedmann equations.

Invited by: Dr. Søren Bertil F. Dorch, The Niels Bohr Institute and the Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark
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