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The Cosmological Constant Problem and Running Vacuum in the Expanding Universe

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arxiv 2203.13757 v2 pith:DIFG5OZO submitted 2022-03-25 gr-qc astro-ph.COhep-phhep-th

classification gr-qcastro-ph.COhep-phhep-th
keywords cosmologicalconstantdynamicalproblemsomevacuumcomponentfields
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abstract

It is well-known that quantum field theory (QFT) induces a huge value of the cosmological constant, $\Lambda$, which is outrageously inconsistent with cosmological observations. We review here some aspects of this fundamental theoretical conundrum (`the cosmological constant problem') and strongly argue in favor of the possibility that the cosmic vacuum density $\rho_{\rm vac}$ may be mildly evolving with the expansion rate $H$. Such a `running vacuum model' (RVM) proposal predicts an effective dynamical dark energy without postulating new ad hoc fields (quintessence and the like). Using the method of adiabatic renormalization within QFT in curved spacetime we find that $\rho_{\rm vac}(H)$ acquires a dynamical component ${\cal O}(H^2)$ caused by the quantum matter effects. There are also ${\cal O}(H^n)$ ($n=4,6,..$) contributions, some of which may trigger inflation in the early universe. Remarkably, the evolution of the adiabatically renormalized $\rho_{\rm vac}(H)$ is not affected by dangerous terms proportional to the quartic power of the masses ($\sim m^4$) of the fields. Traditionally, these terms have been the main source of trouble as they are responsible for the extreme fine tuning feature of the cosmological constant problem. In the context under study, however, the late time $\rho_{\rm vac}(H)$ around $H_0$ is given by a dominant term ($\rho_{\rm vac}^0$) plus the aforementioned mild dynamical component $\propto \nu (H^2-H_0^2)$ (with $|\nu|\ll1$), which makes the RVM to mimic quintessence. Finally, on the phenomenological side we show that the RVM may be instrumental in alleviating some of the most challenging problems (so-called `tensions') afflicting nowadays the observational consistency of the `concordance' $\Lambda$CDM model, such as the $H_0$ and $\sigma_8$ tensions.

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Cited by 6 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score. Full citation record

  1. The Vacuum Displacement Principle: Theoretical Framework and Local Phenomenology

    gr-qc 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 6.0 of 10

    A vacuum scalar field with spontaneous symmetry breaking and matter coupling generates Yukawa-corrected gravity that accounts for flat galactic rotation curves and dynamically tracks the cosmological constant.

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    gr-qc 2026-01 conditional novelty 6.0 of 10

    The vacuum energy of quantum fields, computed exactly in de Sitter spacetime and then allowed to decay into radiation, can drive H^4-powered inflation and leave a slowly running dark energy δρ_vac ~ m_Pl^2 H^2, unifyi...

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    gr-qc 2025-07 conditional novelty 6.0 of 10

    For single-axion potentials of the form Λ0^3 b + Λ1^4 cos(b/fb), the paper classifies the fixed points of the Friedmann-Klein-Gordon dynamics into stable nodes/spirals, saddles, and a bifurcation at |γ/δ|=1.

  4. Signatures of Modified Gravity on Linear Scales in a Dynamical Dark Energy Background

    astro-ph.CO 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 5.0 of 10

    Using Planck, DESI, supernovae, and redshift-space distortions, the authors infer that modified gravity, if present, must act only below ~30 Mpc and cannot modify the large scales previously considered.

  5. An overview of what current data can (and cannot yet) say about evolving dark energy

    astro-ph.CO 2025-02 conditional novelty 4.0 of 10

    The apparent preference for evolving dark energy depends strongly on which supernova catalog and which BAO survey are used, and is not robust across all independent data combinations.

  6. Running Vacuum in the expanding Universe: a unified QFT paradigm for Inflation and Dark Energy

    gr-qc 2026-06 unverdicted novelty 3.0 of 10

    The running vacuum model derives dynamical vacuum energy from QFT in curved spacetime, using H^4 terms for inflation and H^2 terms for dark energy while G evolves logarithmically.

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