Dynamics of the quantum vacuum: Cosmology as relaxation to the equilibrium state
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
2011-10-04 v4 Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Abstract
The behavior of the gravitating vacuum energy density in an expanding universe is discussed. A scenario is presented with a step-wise relaxation of the vacuum energy density. The vacuum energy density moves from plateau to plateau and follows, on average, the steadily decreasing matter energy density. The current plateau with a small positive value of the vacuum energy density (effective cosmological constant) may result from a still not equilibrated contribution of the light massive neutrinos to the quantum vacuum.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1102.3152,
title = {Dynamics of the quantum vacuum: Cosmology as relaxation to the equilibrium state},
author = {F. R. Klinkhamer and G. E. Volovik},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1102.3152},
year = {2011}
}
Comments
12 pages; contribution to the Proceedings of The Spanish Relativity Meeting (ERE2010); v4: published version but with larger figure and expanded references