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Global definition and physical interpretation of the cosmological constant
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Global definition and physical interpretation of the cosmological constant

G. Rosen
Europhysics letters, v 87(5), p59001
Sep 2009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/87/59001

Abstract

98.80.Jk 98.90.+s
Defined as a global physical entity, the cosmological constant $\Lambda $ appears here as a stationary functional of the metric, the matter (dark as well as visible) and the radiation fields. Subject to compact-support variations of the fields, $\delta \Lambda =0$ gives the metric, matter and radiation field equations. With this rigorous physical formulation, the empirical relation $\Lambda \cong 2.7\kappa \rho _{0}$, where $\rho _{0}$ is the average energy-density of matter and radiation, follows from the spacetime average of $\kappa (L-g^{\mu \nu} \partial L/\partial g^{\mu \nu })$ through the observable four-volume of the Universe on the homogeneity scale $({\sim }100\,{\rm Mpc}),$ where L is the Lagrangian of the matter and radiation fields. Hence, the notion of negative-pressure dark energy is obviated in favor of an energy-density relationship for the cosmological constant that derives from the physical principle $\delta \Lambda =0$. Moreover, this formulation can be employed practically to rule out certain common-suspect free fields as the dominant component of dark matter. In particular, it is readily shown that a massive spin-zero scalar free field or a massive spin-one vector free field are precluded as the dominant component of dark matter.

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Physics, Multidisciplinary
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