Gravitational energy as dark energy: Towards concordance cosmology without Lambda

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new interpretation of cosmological parameters suggesting that dark energy may be an artifact of gravitational energy gradients in an inhomogeneous universe, potentially eliminating the need for a cosmological constant.

Contribution

It introduces a model where gravitational energy gradients in an inhomogeneous universe explain cosmic acceleration without dark energy or Lambda.

Findings

Model fits observational data without Lambda

Gravitational energy gradients mimic dark energy effects

Supports a new concordance cosmology

Abstract

I briefly outline a new physical interpretation to the average cosmological parameters for an inhomogeneous universe with backreaction. The variance in local geometry and gravitational energy between ideal isotropic observers in bound structures and isotropic observers at the volume average location in voids plays a crucial role. Fits of a model universe to observational data suggest the possibility of a new concordance cosmology, in which dark energy is revealed as a mis-identification of gravitational energy gradients that become important when voids grow at late epochs.