Does The Cosmological Constant Problem Exist?

TL;DR

This paper argues that the cosmological constant problem is a misconception rooted in the assumption of a fundamental space-time background, proposing a symmetry-based approach that eliminates the need for dark energy explanations.

Contribution

It introduces a formulation of quantum theory based on Lie algebra symmetries instead of space-time backgrounds, challenging the traditional view of the cosmological constant.

Findings

Quantum theory should be based on symmetry algebras, not space-time backgrounds.

The non-zero cosmological constant reflects de Sitter symmetry, not space-time curvature.

The problem is reinterpreted as understanding why Poincare symmetry is an excellent approximation today.

Abstract

We first give simple arguments in favor of the "Zero Constants Party", i.e. that quantum theory should not contain fundamental dimensionful constants at all. Then we argue that quantum theory should proceed not from a space-time background but from a Lie algebra, which is treated as a symmetry algebra. With such a formulation of symmetry, the fact that $\Lambda\neq 0$ means not that the space-time background is curved (since the notion of the space-time background is not physical) but that the symmetry algebra is the de Sitter algebra rather than the Poincare one. In particular, there is no need to involve dark energy or other fields for explaining this fact. As a consequence, instead of the cosmological constant problem we have a problem why nowadays Poincare symmetry is so good approximate symmetry. This is rather a problem of cosmology but not fundamental quantum physics.