A Manifestly Local Theory of Vacuum Energy Sequestering

TL;DR

This paper introduces a local, diffeomorphism invariant theory that cancels quantum vacuum energy contributions via auxiliary fields, resulting in a stable and measurable curvature effect.

Contribution

It provides the first manifestly local and invariant formulation of vacuum energy sequestering with auxiliary fields that decouple from gravity.

Findings

Quantum vacuum energy is canceled by auxiliary fields.

The residual curvature contribution is finite and radiatively stable.

The curvature value is determined by measurement, similar to other UV-sensitive quantities.

Abstract

We present a manifestly local, diffeomorphism invariant and locally Poincare invariant formulation of vacuum energy sequestering. In this theory, quantum vacuum energy generated by matter loops is cancelled by auxiliary fields. The auxiliary fields decouple from gravity almost completely. Their only residual effect is an a priori arbitrary, finite contribution to the curvature of the background geometry, which is radiatively stable. Its value is to be determined by a measurement, like the finite part of any radiatively stable UV-sensitive quantity in quantum field theory.