The mystery of the cosmological constant

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Scientific American; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0588-106· OSTI ID:6965977

Abbott, L

The constant, a measure of the energy of the vacuum, is cosmological because its valve has implications for the structure and fate of the universe. The wide divergence between theoretical and observed values of the constant could mean that modern physics is on the verge of a profound new understanding of the nature of space, time, and matter. If the vacuum energy density were as large as theories of elementary particles suggest, the universe in which we live would be dramatically different. What has gone wrong with our theories This answer to this question is unknown at present. Indeed, a comparison of theoretical and experimental understanding of the cosmological constant leads to one of the most intriguing and frustrating mysteries in particle physics and relativity today. 6 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6965977
• Journal Information: Scientific American; (USA), Journal Name: Scientific American; (USA) Vol. 258:5; ISSN SCAMA; ISSN 0036-8733
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
657003 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
ENERGY DENSITY
EXPANSION
FIELD THEORIES
FLUCTUATIONS
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATION
MASS DISTRIBUTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATTER
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICS
PARTICLE MODELS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RADIATIONS
SPACE-TIME
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STANDARD MODEL
UNIFIED GAUGE MODELS
UNIVERSE
VACUUM STATES
VARIATIONS