Spontaneous Decay of the Effective Cosmological Constant

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum fields can cause a decaying, effective cosmological constant over time, suggesting a dynamic alternative to a static cosmological constant in non-de Sitter spacetimes.

Contribution

It introduces a model where quantum effects lead to a time-dependent cosmological constant that diminishes, expanding the understanding of cosmic evolution beyond static models.

Findings

Effective cosmological constant can decay over time due to quantum effects.

Such decay models are consistent in non-de Sitter spacetimes.

Supports dynamic cosmological models as viable alternatives.

Abstract

We discuss the notion that quantum fields may induce an effective time-dependent cosmological constant which decays from a large initial value. It is shown that such cosmological models are viable in a non-de Sitter spacetime.