Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum Theory
We argue that quantum theory should proceed not from a spacetime background but from a Lie algebra, which is treated as a symmetry algebra. Then the fact that the cosmological constant is positive means not that the spacetime background is curved but that the de Sitter (dS) algebra as the symmetry a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2010-11-01
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| Series: | Symmetry |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/4/1945/ |
| _version_ | 1817992291953934336 |
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| author | Felix M. Lev |
| author_facet | Felix M. Lev |
| author_sort | Felix M. Lev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We argue that quantum theory should proceed not from a spacetime background but from a Lie algebra, which is treated as a symmetry algebra. Then the fact that the cosmological constant is positive means not that the spacetime background is curved but that the de Sitter (dS) algebra as the symmetry algebra is more relevant than the Poincare or anti de Sitter ones. The physical interpretation of irreducible representations (IRs) of the dS algebra is considerably different from that for the other two algebras. One IR of the dS algebra splits into independent IRs for a particle and its antiparticle only when Poincare approximation works with a high accuracy. Only in this case additive quantum numbers such as electric, baryon and lepton charges are conserved, while at early stages of the Universe they could not be conserved. Another property of IRs of the dS algebra is that only fermions can be elementary and there can be no neutral elementary particles. The cosmological repulsion is a simple kinematical consequence of dS symmetry on quantum level when quasiclassical approximation is valid. Therefore the cosmological constant problem does not exist and there is no need to involve dark energy or other fields for explaining this phenomenon (in agreement with a similar conclusion by Bianchi and Rovelli). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:24:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7128ec3027f54e91be3eaff2a9890984 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-8994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:24:23Z |
| publishDate | 2010-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Symmetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-7128ec3027f54e91be3eaff2a98909842022-12-22T02:20:29ZengMDPI AGSymmetry2073-89942010-11-01241945198010.3390/sym2041945Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum TheoryFelix M. LevWe argue that quantum theory should proceed not from a spacetime background but from a Lie algebra, which is treated as a symmetry algebra. Then the fact that the cosmological constant is positive means not that the spacetime background is curved but that the de Sitter (dS) algebra as the symmetry algebra is more relevant than the Poincare or anti de Sitter ones. The physical interpretation of irreducible representations (IRs) of the dS algebra is considerably different from that for the other two algebras. One IR of the dS algebra splits into independent IRs for a particle and its antiparticle only when Poincare approximation works with a high accuracy. Only in this case additive quantum numbers such as electric, baryon and lepton charges are conserved, while at early stages of the Universe they could not be conserved. Another property of IRs of the dS algebra is that only fermions can be elementary and there can be no neutral elementary particles. The cosmological repulsion is a simple kinematical consequence of dS symmetry on quantum level when quasiclassical approximation is valid. Therefore the cosmological constant problem does not exist and there is no need to involve dark energy or other fields for explaining this phenomenon (in agreement with a similar conclusion by Bianchi and Rovelli).http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/4/1945/quantum theoryde Sitter invariancecosmological constant problem |
| spellingShingle | Felix M. Lev Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum Theory Symmetry quantum theory de Sitter invariance cosmological constant problem |
| title | Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum Theory |
| title_full | Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum Theory |
| title_fullStr | Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum Theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum Theory |
| title_short | Positive Cosmological Constant and Quantum Theory |
| title_sort | positive cosmological constant and quantum theory |
| topic | quantum theory de Sitter invariance cosmological constant problem |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/4/1945/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT felixmlev positivecosmologicalconstantandquantumtheory |