How does the cosmological constant affect gravitational collapse?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The cosmological constant is a fundamental component of General Relativity, essential for understanding gravitational collapse. Its value must remain below approximately 10-120 in natural units to allow for any gravitationally bound structures, such as galaxies and stars, to form. The absence of a symmetry that sets the cosmological constant to zero suggests its existence is necessary. This discussion clarifies the implications of the cosmological constant on gravitational dynamics and the formation of cosmic structures.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of General Relativity
  • Familiarity with the concept of the cosmological constant
  • Knowledge of gravitational collapse phenomena
  • Basic comprehension of natural units in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of the cosmological constant in cosmology
  • Study Roger Penrose's theories on gravitational collapse and spacetime singularities
  • Explore the concept of natural units and their applications in theoretical physics
  • Investigate the relationship between the cosmological constant and the formation of cosmic structures
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, physicists, cosmologists, and students interested in the interplay between the cosmological constant and gravitational collapse in the universe.

Cerenkov
Messages
360
Reaction score
96
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-are-the-best-parameters-for-lcdm.831858/

Hello.

In the above linked thread from 2015 Science Advisor Chalnoth replies to Earnest Guest.

First, the cosmological constant has been a component of General Relativity pretty much from the start. The way that General Relativity is derived, in fact, essentially requires the existence of the cosmological constant. Its value had long assumed to be zero because it has to take on a value smaller than about 10−120 in natural units in order for any gravitational collapse to occur. Theorists largely assumed that there must be some kind of symmetry that sets the cosmological constant to be zero. However, no such symmetry has been found. Our theories, in other words, seem to be telling us that the cosmological constant probably must exist, and therefore we really shouldn't have been all that surprised to see it occur. My questions pertain to the highlighted sentence.

1.
Is the gravitational collapse in question the phenomenon referred to by Roger Penrose in this paper? https://www.semanticscholar.org/pap...rose/faad1f4358fddf70df2e00c0a290b7e4501c27de

2.
What do the words 'natural units' refer to please?

3.
If possible, could someone please explain to me why the value of the cosmological constant has to take on such a small value for gravitational collapse to occur? Please note that my level of understanding is Basic, so I won't be able to follow any math.

If it's not possible to answer this question at a Basic level, I quite understand and I thank you for reading this. I am reconciled to not being able to follow a lot of what is posted in this forum. But my interest in these topics remains undimmed.Thank you for any help given. Cerenkov.
 
Space news on Phys.org
"any gravitational collapse" just means any gravitationally bound structure: Galaxies, stars, ...
If the cosmological constant were e.g. 100 times the measured value (which is still a tiny value compared to the Planck density) everything would have be blown apart long before these structures would have had time to form.
Cerenkov said:
What do the words 'natural units' refer to please?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_units
 
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
Thank you mfb. :smile:

I can see now that I was barking up the wrong tree, mistakenly thinking that the collapse referred to was that of a massive star collapsing into a black hole.

Thanks again,

Cerenkov.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman

Similar threads

  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
8K
  • · Replies 153 ·
6
Replies
153
Views
13K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
7K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K