Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe (survey)

In summary, this paper is an invited review written by Joshua Frieman, Michael Turner, and Dragan Huterer, discussing the discovery of cosmic acceleration and its implications on the current cosmological model. They explore various theories, such as dark energy and possible breakdown of General Relativity, and describe key observational methods that will help unravel this mystery in the future. The authors are highly regarded in the field and this paper serves as a valuable reference for understanding modern cosmology.
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marcus
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http://arxiv.org/abs/0803.0982
Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe
Joshua Frieman (Chicago/Fermilab), Michael Turner (Chicago), Dragan Huterer (Michigan)
Invited review for Annual Reviews of Astronomy and Astrophysics; 53 pages, 18 figures
(Submitted on 7 Mar 2008)

"The discovery ten years ago that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating put in place the last major building block of the present cosmological model, in which the Universe is composed of 4% baryons, 20% dark matter, and 76% dark energy. At the same time, it posed one of the most profound mysteries in all of science, with deep connections to both astrophysics and particle physics. Cosmic acceleration could arise from the repulsive gravity of dark energy -- for example, the quantum energy of the vacuum -- or it may signal that General Relativity breaks down on cosmological scales and must be replaced. We review the present observational evidence for cosmic acceleration and what it has revealed about dark energy, discuss the various theoretical ideas that have been proposed to explain acceleration, and describe the key observational probes that will shed light on this enigma in the coming years."


Michael Turner is one of the world's top cosmologists. This invited review probably sums up the current mainstream view of dark energy. A good point of reference.
 
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  • #2
Thanks Marcus, indeed it will be a useful reference.
 
  • #3
This paper puts the basic concepts of modern cosmology into perspective. I would call it a review paper, and a very good one. LCDM is a model that is affirmed on a daily basis on many fronts.
 

1. What is dark energy?

Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that is believed to make up approximately 70% of the total energy in the universe. It is responsible for the observed accelerating expansion of the universe.

2. How was dark energy discovered?

Dark energy was first proposed in the late 1990s when astronomers observed that the expansion of the universe was accelerating, contrary to what was expected based on the known laws of gravity. This led to the development of the concept of dark energy as a possible explanation for this unexpected phenomenon.

3. What is the relationship between dark energy and the accelerating universe?

Dark energy is believed to be the driving force behind the accelerating expansion of the universe. It works in opposition to gravity, causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate rather than slow down.

4. How is dark energy measured and studied?

Dark energy cannot be directly observed or measured, as it does not interact with light or other forms of matter. Instead, scientists use indirect methods such as studying the large-scale structure of the universe, the cosmic microwave background, and the supernovae distance ladder to gather evidence and learn more about dark energy.

5. What are the current theories and research surrounding dark energy?

There are several theories and hypotheses surrounding dark energy, including the cosmological constant model, quintessence, and modified gravity. Scientists continue to study and conduct research on dark energy in order to better understand its nature and potential implications for the universe.

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