The dynamics of vacuum, gravity and matter: Implications on the fundamental constants

TL;DR

This paper explores how a time-dependent vacuum energy density influences the evolution of fundamental constants in the universe, proposing a quantum field theory framework that links vacuum fluctuations to observable cosmic and particle physics phenomena.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum field theory in cosmological spacetime predicts a generic, covariant connection between vacuum fluctuations and the slow drift of fundamental constants.

Findings

Vacuum energy density can vary with the Hubble rate.

Fundamental constants may drift over cosmic time due to vacuum fluctuations.

A renormalization framework resolves the cosmological constant problem.

Abstract

The possibility that the vacuum energy density (VED), $\rho_{\rm vac}$, could be time dependent in the expanding Universe is intuitively more reasonable than just a rigid cosmological constant for the entire cosmic history. The dynamics of $\rho_{\rm vac}=\rho_{\rm vac}(H)$ as a function of the Hubble rate, $H(t)$, most likely contributes to alleviate cosmological problems and tensions, having also implications on the so-called fundamental `constants' of Nature, which should be slowly drifting with the cosmic expansion owing to the fluctuations of the quantum vacuum. This includes the gravitational `constant' $G$, but also the gauge and Yukawa couplings as well as the particle masses themselves (both of dark matter and baryonic matter). The subtle exchange of energy involved is the basis for the ``micro and macro connection''. Herein, I discuss not only this connection as a possibility but show that it is in fact a generic prediction of QFT in cosmological spacetime which is fully compatible with general covariance. This fact has not been pointed out until recently when an appropriate renormalization framework for the VED has been found which is free from the usual conundrums associated with the cosmological constant problem.