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Dynamical approach to the cosmological constant.

Shinji Mukohyama1, Lisa Randall

  • 1Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.

Physical Review Letters
|July 13, 2004
PubMed
Summary

This study proposes a dynamical approach to the cosmological constant, using a scalar field with a unique kinetic term. This model prevents the lowest energy state, causing the cosmological constant to stabilize near zero.

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Area of Science:

  • Cosmology
  • Theoretical Physics
  • Quantum Field Theory

Background:

  • The cosmological constant problem is a major challenge in modern physics.
  • Existing models often require significant fine-tuning to match observational values.
  • Vacuum energy and its cosmological implications are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a dynamical model for the cosmological constant.
  • To investigate a scalar field with a nonstandard kinetic term and a negative vacuum energy minimum.
  • To explore mechanisms that naturally stabilize the cosmological constant near zero.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing a scalar field with a potential and a nonstandard kinetic term.
  • Analyzing the behavior of the system near zero curvature.
  • Investigating the stability of the model under radiative corrections.

Main Results:

  • The divergent kinetic term prevents the achievement of the lowest energy state.
  • The cosmological constant automatically stalls at or near zero.
  • The model exhibits stability under radiative corrections.

Conclusions:

  • This dynamical approach offers a potential solution to the cosmological constant problem.
  • The model reduces fine-tuning by many orders of magnitude.
  • It provides a new mechanism for sampling cosmological constants and implementing the anthropic principle, though some reheating is required.

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