Maximum Tension: with and without a cosmological constant

TL;DR

The paper explores the concept of a maximum force in general relativity, contrasting it with Newtonian gravity, and examines how a cosmological constant and higher dimensions influence this maximum force conjecture.

Contribution

It analyzes the maximum force conjecture in various contexts, including higher dimensions and with a positive cosmological constant, providing bounds derived from black hole solutions.

Findings

Maximum force exists in general relativity but not in Newtonian gravity.

The maximum force bound is affected by the presence of a cosmological constant.

Higher dimensions alter the nature of Planck units of force.

Abstract

We discuss various examples and ramifications of the conjecture that there exists a maximum force (or tension) in general relativistic systems. We contrast this situation with that in Newtonian gravity, where no maximum force exists, and relate it to the existence of natural units defined by constants of Nature and the fact that the Planck units of force and power do not depend on Planck's constant. We discuss how these results change in higher dimensions where the Planck units of force are no longer non-quantum. We discuss the changes that might occur to the conjecture if a positive cosmological constant exists and derive a maximum force bound using the Kottler-Schwarzschild-de Sitter black hole.