Dark energy as space-time curvature induced by quantum vacuum fluctuations. (English) Zbl 1237.83050
Summary: 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 \(\rho\) and pressure \(p\) fulfilling \(-p = \rho > 0\). 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 \(\rho \) might be of order the “dark energy” density currently assumed to explain the observed accelerated expansion of the universe.
MSC:
| 83F05 | Relativistic cosmology |
| 83C47 | Methods of quantum field theory in general relativity and gravitational theory |
| 83C55 | Macroscopic interaction of the gravitational field with matter (hydrodynamics, etc.) |
| 85A40 | Astrophysical cosmology |
| 81T20 | Quantum field theory on curved space or space-time backgrounds |
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