Quantum Theory, Noncommutative Gravity, and the Cosmological Constant Problem
The cosmological constant problem is principally concerned with trying to understand how the zero-point energy of quantum fields contributes to gravity. Here we take the approach that by addressing a fundamental unresolved issue in quantum theory, we can gain a better understanding of the problem. O...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2009-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Astronomy |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/632064 |
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| Summary: | The cosmological constant problem is principally concerned with trying to understand how the zero-point
energy of quantum fields contributes to gravity. Here we take the approach that by addressing a
fundamental unresolved issue in quantum theory, we can gain a better understanding of the problem.
Our starting point is the observation that the notion of classical time is external to quantum mechanics.
Hence there must exist an equivalent reformulation of quantum mechanics which does not refer to an
external classical time. Such a reformulation is a limiting case of a more general quantum theory which
becomes nonlinear on the Planck mass/energy scale. The nonlinearity gives rise to a quantum-classical
duality which maps a “strongly quantum, weakly gravitational” dynamics to a “weakly quantum, strongly
gravitational” dynamics. This duality predicts the existence of a tiny nonzero cosmological constant of
the order of the square of the Hubble constant, which could be a possible source for the observed cosmic
acceleration. Such a nonlinearity could also be responsible for the collapse of the wave function during a
quantum measurement. |
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| ISSN: | 1687-7969 1687-7977 |