Dark Energy: back to Newton?

TL;DR

This paper explores the historical development of dark energy, linking Newton's linear attraction force to Einstein's cosmological constant and discussing its implications for understanding the universe's total mass.

Contribution

It provides a historical analysis connecting Newtonian concepts with modern dark energy theories, highlighting potential links between the cosmological constant and universe mass.

Findings

A historical connection between Newton's force law and Einstein's Lambda.

Discussion of Mach's influence on Einstein's cosmological ideas.

Coherent presentation of Lambda's evolution over ninety years.

Abstract

Dark Energy is currently one of the biggest mysteries in science. In this article the origin of the concept is traced as far back as Newton and Hooke in the seventeenth century. Newton considered, along with the inverse square law, a force of attraction that varies linearly with distance. A direct link can be made between this term and Einstein's cosmological constant, Lambda, and this leads to a possible relation between Lambda and the total mass of the universe. Mach's influence on Einstein is discussed and the convoluted history of Lambda throughout the last ninety years is coherently presented.