Uniformly expanding vacuum: a possible interpretation of the dark energy

TL;DR

This paper proposes that a uniformly expanding vacuum, consistent with the equivalence principle, could explain the universe's accelerated expansion, offering a new interpretation of dark energy.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a uniformly expanding vacuum as a potential explanation for dark energy, grounded in the equivalence principle and observer free fall.

Findings

The uniformly expanding vacuum can account for the observed acceleration of the universe.

The proposal clarifies the meaning of vacuum expansion in the context of measurement.

It suggests a new perspective on the nature of dark energy and cosmic acceleration.

Abstract

Following the spirit of the equivalence principle, we take a step further to recognize the free fall of the observer as a method to eliminate causes that would lead the perceived vacuum to change its original state. Thus, it is expected that the vacuum should be in a rigid Minkowski state or be uniformly expanding. By carefully investigating the impact on measurement caused by the expansion, we clarify the exact meaning of the uniformly expanding vacuum and find that this proposal may be able to explain the current observations of an accelerating universe.