Casimir Effect Confronts Cosmological Constant

In summary, the authors discuss the possibility of the zero-point energy of the vacuum, regularized by a suitable cut-off scale, being the source of the non-vanishing cosmological constant. They also show that this cut-off can significantly alter the results of the Casimir force and rule out the possibility of the observed cosmological constant arising from this zero-point energy if gravity couples to these modes.
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wolram
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I thought this the right place to post this, from the little i can understand
it seems interesting.

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0604265

Casimir Effect confronts Cosmological Constant
Authors: Gaurang Mahajan, Sudipta Sarkar, T. Padmanabhan
Comments: revtex4; four pages; 5 figs

It has been speculated that the zero-point energy of the vacuum, regularized due to the existence of a suitable ultraviolet cut-off scale, could be the source of the non-vanishing cosmological constant that is driving the present acceleration of the universe. We show that the presence of such a cut-off can significantly alter the results for the Casimir force between parallel conducting plates and even lead to repulsive Casimir force when the plate separation is smaller than the cut-off scale length. Using the current experimental data we rule out the possibility that the observed cosmological constant arises from the zero-point energy which is made finite by a suitable cut-off. Any such cut-off which is consistent with the observed Casimir effect will lead to an energy density which is about 10^{12} times larger than the observed one, if gravity couples to these modes. The implications are discussed.
 
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  • #2
This is an interesting paper! It's great to see that the authors are exploring the connections between the Casimir Effect and the Cosmological Constant. It will be interesting to see how the findings of this paper may lead to further research in this area.
 
  • #3


Thank you for sharing this interesting paper. The Casimir effect is a well-known phenomenon in quantum field theory, where the presence of boundaries can lead to a force between them due to the zero-point energy of the vacuum. This paper explores the possibility that the observed cosmological constant, which is believed to be responsible for the current accelerated expansion of the universe, could arise from this zero-point energy if it is regulated by a suitable cut-off scale.

The authors show that the presence of such a cut-off can significantly alter the results for the Casimir force between parallel plates, and even lead to a repulsive force when the plate separation is smaller than the cut-off scale. This is an intriguing result, as it suggests that the Casimir effect could play a role in understanding the cosmological constant.

However, the authors also rule out the possibility that the observed cosmological constant arises from the zero-point energy regulated by a suitable cut-off. This is because any cut-off consistent with the observed Casimir effect would lead to an energy density that is about 10^{12} times larger than the observed one, if gravity couples to these modes. This has important implications for our understanding of the cosmological constant and the role of the Casimir effect in cosmology.

Overall, this paper presents a thought-provoking idea and highlights the importance of considering the effects of quantum fluctuations on the cosmological constant. It will be interesting to see further developments in this area and how it can contribute to our understanding of the universe.
 

1. What is the Casimir Effect Confronts Cosmological Constant?

The Casimir Effect Confronts Cosmological Constant is a phenomenon in quantum field theory where the presence of vacuum energy, or the cosmological constant, affects the behavior of particles and their interactions with each other.

2. How does the Casimir Effect work?

The Casimir Effect occurs due to the fluctuation of virtual particles in the vacuum. These particles create a force between two closely spaced parallel plates, pushing them together. This force is stronger when the distance between the plates is smaller, resulting in a measurable effect.

3. What is the significance of the Casimir Effect Confronts Cosmological Constant?

The Casimir Effect Confronts Cosmological Constant provides evidence for the existence of dark energy, which is thought to be the cause of the expansion of the universe. It also helps in understanding the behavior of particles in the vacuum and their interactions.

4. Can the Casimir Effect be observed in real life?

Yes, the Casimir Effect has been observed and measured in several experiments using different configurations and materials. However, it is a very small effect and requires precise measurements and control of experimental variables.

5. Is the Casimir Effect related to the Casimir-Polder force?

Yes, the Casimir Effect and the Casimir-Polder force are both caused by the same underlying phenomenon of vacuum energy fluctuations. However, the Casimir Effect is specifically related to the force between parallel plates, while the Casimir-Polder force is related to the force between a particle and a surface.

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