Small dark energy without small parameters

TL;DR

This paper introduces a matter-based model that naturally adjusts a large negative dark energy to a small positive value, addressing the cosmological constant problem without altering gravity.

Contribution

It proposes a novel mechanism where initial conditions and matter dynamics suppress dark energy to observed levels without small parameters.

Findings

Dark energy can be dynamically adjusted to small positive values

Inflationary initial conditions lead to exponentially suppressed dark energy

The model avoids modifications to gravity while solving the cosmological constant problem

Abstract

We present a prototype model that resolves the cosmological constant problem using matter alone, i.e., without modifying gravity. Its generic cosmological solutions adjust an arbitrarily large, negative dark energy to a positive value parametrically suppressed by an initial field velocity. Inflationary initial conditions lead to a positive dark energy exponentially smaller in magnitude than any model parameter, or any scale in the initial conditions.