Cosmological constant problem
Unsolved problem in physics
Why doesn't the zero-point energy of vacuum cause a large cosmological constant? What cancels it out?
In cosmology the vacuum catastrophe refers to the disagreement of 107 orders of magnitude between the upper bound upon the energy density of vacuum as inferred from data obtained from the Voyager spacecraft of less than 1014 GeV/m3 and the zero-point energy of 10121 GeV/m3 calculated using quantum field theory.[1] This discrepancy has been termed "the worst theoretical prediction in the history of physics!"[2]
References
- ^ SM Dutra (2004). Cavity Quantum Electronics. p. 63. ISBN 0471713473.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|publihser=ignored (|publisher=suggested) (help) - ^ MP Hobson, GP Efstathiou & AN Lasenby (2006). General Relativity: An introduction for physicists (Reprinted with corrections 2007 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 187. ISBN 9780521829519.