Vacuum energy in effective field theory of general relativity

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in the effective field theory of general relativity, the condition of zero vacuum energy naturally results in a vanishing cosmological constant, ensuring consistency with Minkowski background solutions.

Contribution

It shows to all orders that the vacuum energy condition leads to a zero cosmological constant in the effective field theory of general relativity.

Findings

Vacuum energy condition enforces zero cosmological constant

Effective action characterized by vanishing cosmological constant

Consistency with Minkowski background achieved

Abstract

It is shown to all orders of perturbation theory that in the effective field theory of general relativity the condition of vanishing of the vacuum energy leads to the same value of the cosmological constant, viewed as a parameter of the effective Lagrangian, as obtained by demanding the consistency of the effective field theory in Minkowski background. The resulting effective action is characterized by the cosmological constant term that vanishes exactly.