Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1999-04-28
Int.J.Mod.Phys.D9:373-444,2000
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
84 pages, latex, 17 figures. Revised and updated. More material added including a new section and several new figures. Invited
Scientific paper
10.1142/S0218271800000542
Recent observations of Type 1a supernovae indicating an accelerating universe have once more drawn attention to the possible existence, at the present epoch, of a small positive Lambda-term (cosmological constant). In this paper we review both observational and theoretical aspects of a small cosmological Lambda-term. We discuss the current observational situation focusing on cosmological tests of Lambda including the age of the universe, high redshift supernovae, gravitational lensing, galaxy clustering and the cosmic microwave background. We also review the theoretical debate surrounding Lambda: the generation of Lambda in models with spontaneous symmetry breaking and through quantum vacuum polarization effects -- mechanisms which are known to give rise to alarge value of Lambda hence leading to the `cosmological constant problem'. More recent attempts to generate a small cosmological constant at the present epoch using either field theoretic techniques, or by modeling a dynamical Lambda-term by scalar fields are also extensively discussed. Anthropic arguments favouring a small cosmological constant are briefly reviewed. A comprehensive bibliography of recent work on Lambda is provided.
Sahni Varun
Starobinsky Alexei
No associations
LandOfFree
The Case for a Positive Cosmological Lambda-term does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Case for a Positive Cosmological Lambda-term, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Case for a Positive Cosmological Lambda-term will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-87367