De Sitter Space and Eternity

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum infrared effects in de Sitter space, revealing its instability under perturbations and proposing a dual gauge theory description, with implications for the cosmological constant.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of 'eternal manifolds' and shows de Sitter space generally does not belong to this class, highlighting its instability and potential cosmological implications.

Findings

De Sitter space is unstable under small perturbations.

Infrared effects may screen the cosmological constant.

A dual gauge theory description is proposed.

Abstract

This paper explores infrared quantum effects in the de Sitter space. The notion of "eternal manifolds" is introduced and it is shown that in most cases the de Sitter space doesn't belong to this class. It is unstable under small perturbations which may cause a breakdown of the de Sitter symmetry. The de Sitter string sigma model is discussed. It is argued that the gauge theory at the complex coupling is dual to the matrix elements of vertex operators in the de Sitter space, taken between the Bunch - Davies vacuum and the "out" state without particles.The described infrared effects are likely to screen away the cosmological constant.