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On the Mystery of the Cosmic Vacuum Energy Density

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Book cover Dark Matter in Astro- and Particle Physics

Abstract

After a short history of the Λ-term it is explained why the (effective) cosmological constant is expected to obtain contributions from short-distance physics, corresponding to an energy at least as large as the Fermi scale. The actual tiny value of the cosmological constant by particle physics standards represents, therefore, one of the deepest mysteries of present-day fundamental physics. Recent proposals of an approach to the cosmological constant problem which make use of (large) extra dimensions are briefly discussed. Cosmological models with a dynamical Λ, which attempt to avoid the disturbing cosmic coincidence problem, are also reviewed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Zurich, Winterthurertrasse, 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Norbert Straumann

Authors
  1. Norbert Straumann
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany

    H. V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Straumann, N. (2001). On the Mystery of the Cosmic Vacuum Energy Density. In: Klapdor-Kleingrothaus, H.V. (eds) Dark Matter in Astro- and Particle Physics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56643-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56643-1_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62608-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-56643-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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