Dark energy as space-time curvature induced by quantum vacuum fluctuations |
| |
Authors: | Emilio Santos |
| |
Institution: | (1) Institut f?r Theoretische Astrophysik, Zentrum f?r Astronomie, Universit?t Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany |
| |
Abstract: | It is shown that quantum vacuum fluctuations give rise to a curvature of space-time equivalent to a cosmological constant,
that is a homogeneous energy density ρ and pressure p fulfilling −p=ρ>0. The fact that the fluctuations produce curvature, even if the vacuum expectation of the energy vanishes, is a consequence
of the non-linear character of the Einstein equation. A calculation is made, involving plausible hypotheses within quantized
gravity, which establishes a relation between the two-point correlation of the vacuum fluctuations and the space-time curvature.
Arguments are given which suggest that the density ρ might be of order the “dark energy” density currently assumed to explain the observed accelerated expansion of the universe. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|