Gravitation of finite range and the accelerated expansion of the universe

TL;DR

This paper explores how a finite-range gravitational force, influenced by thermal effects in vacuum modes, could explain the universe's accelerated expansion, extending previous models of gravity as a Casimir-like interaction.

Contribution

It derives an analytical form of the modified gravitational force considering finite temperature effects, proposing a finite-range gravity model.

Findings

Gravitational interaction can be modeled as a retarded dispersion interaction.

Finite temperature effects lead to a finite-range gravitational force.

The analytical form of the modified force is provided.

Abstract

In an earlier work we showed that the gravitational interaction could be reproduced as a retarded dispersion interaction (Casimir interaction) between particles composed of hypothetical particles having harmonic oscillator interactions. Here we derive the modification of the force when the vacuum modes have a small but finite temperature. The resulting interaction is of finite range. We give the result on analytical form.