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arXiv · 1011.3497

Vacuum Structure and Dark Energy

Lance Labun·Johann Rafelski
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Abstract

We consider that the universe is trapped in an excited vacuum state and the resulting excitation energy provides the observed dark energy. We explore the conditions under which this situation can arise from physics already known. Considering the example of how macroscopic QED fields alter the vacuum structure, we find that the energy scale 1 meV --- 1 eV is particularly interesting. We discuss how dark energy of this form is accessible to laboratory experiments.

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Lance Labun, Johann Rafelski. 2010-11-15. Vacuum Structure and Dark Energy. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0218271810018384

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