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Living With Lambda

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Abstract

The cosmological constant is an energy associated with the vacuum, that is, with 'empty space'. The possibility of a nonzero cosmological constant Λ has been entertained several times in the past for theoretical and observational reasons (early work includes e.g. Einstein 1917; Petrosian, Salpeter and Szekeres, 1967; Gunn and Tinsley, 1975; a popularized description of the history is found in Goldsmith, 1997). Recent supernovae results (Perlmutter et al., 1998; Ries et al., 1998) have made a strong case for a nonzero and possibly quite large cosmological constant. Their results have encouraged increased interest in the properties of a universe with nonzero cosmological constant. Several other observations of various cosmological phenomena are also planned or underway which will further constrain the range of allowed values for the cosmological constant. Given the expected quality and quantity of upcoming data, there is reason to believe that we will know soon whether or not we need to learn to 'live with lambda'. The purpose of this review is to provide a short pedagogical introduction to the consequences of a nonzero cosmological constant. Basic terms are defined in Section 1, where the equations for the time evolution of the scale factor of the universe (defined below) are given. Section 2 indicates the current theoretically expected values of the cosmological constant, introducing the theoretical 'cosmological constant problem'. Some suggestions to explain a cosmological constant consistent with current measurements are listed. In Section 3, the time evolution of the scale factor of the universe (from Section 1) is used to show how the age of the universe, the path length travelled by light, and other properties depending on the spacetime geometry vary when the cosmological constant is present. Section 4 outlines some effects of a nonzero cosmological constant on structure formation. Section 5 summarizes how some recent and upcoming measurements may constrain Λ. Several observations (including those of the supernovae) are described which have provided constraints or show promise for the future. The quality of those observations are improving rapidly. However, the current theoretical explanations for a nonzero cosmological constant consistent with the data, some of which are listed in Section 2, are not compelling. Section 6 briefly describes some suggested theoretical alternatives to a nonzero cosmological constant. Section 7 contains a description of the future of the universe if the cosmological constant is nonzero and then provides a summary. Earlier reviews, in particular the one by Carroll, Press and Turner (1992, hereafter denoted by CPT) are highly recommended for some of the in depth results and more references, as well as the books by Kolb and Turner (1990), Peebles (1993) and Padmanabhan (1993) for the basic cosmology. The referencing is indicative rather than comprehensive. For more extensive referencing consult the more in depth reviews, textbooks and articles cited.

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  1. Departments of Physics and Astronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, U.S.A.

    J.D. Cohn

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Cohn, J. Living With Lambda. Astrophysics and Space Science 259, 213–234 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001796011627

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