Dark Energy and the New Cosmology

TL;DR

This paper discusses the emergence of a new cosmological model that extends the hot big-bang theory by incorporating dark energy as the driver of accelerated cosmic expansion, highlighting its significance in physics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of dark energy as a fundamental component of the new standard cosmology, emphasizing its role in the universe's accelerated expansion.

Findings

Dark energy causes accelerated expansion of the universe.

The new cosmological model extends the hot big-bang theory.

Studying dark energy requires observations of the universe itself.

Abstract

A successor to the standard hot big-bang cosmology is emerging. It greatly extends the highly successful hot big-bang model. A key element of the New Standard Cosmology is dark energy, the causative agent for accelerated expansion. Dark energy is just possibly the most important problem in all of physics. The only laboratory up to the task of studying dark energy is the Universe itself.