The cosmological constant, dark matter, and other unsolved problems from a fresh perspective

Abstract

Quantum theory, general relativity, the standard model of particle physics, and the $\Lambda$CDM model of cosmology have all been spectacularly successful within their respective regimes of applicability, but many central problems remain unsolved. Here we propose a fresh perspective on these problems, based on a description which has elements in common with other efforts toward a fundamental theory, since it also is based on higher dimensions (with an internal space), a form of supersymmetry, important topological structures, and the implication of a multiverse: Our universe is topologically stable because it contains the product of two vortex-like (or instanton-like) configurations of a primordial condensate -- one in 4-dimensional external spacetime, with the big bang at its origin, and the second in a 10-dimensional internal space which yields an SO(10) gauge theory. A third 3-dimensional internal space yields family replication. The arguments leading up to and following this basic picture imply a radically modified view of many unsolved problems and related issues, including the absence of an enormous cosmological constant, the nature of dark matter, the origin of supersymmetry, the origin of Lorentz invariance, the origin of gravitational and gauge interactions, the gravitational metric and its signature, the fundamental action for fermionic and bosonic fields, the regularization of quantum gravity, the origin of quantum fields, the origin of spacetime coordinates, the entropy of black holes, and the probability interpretation of quantum mechanics. Among other near-term predictions, the calculations of Tallman et al. for the dark matter WIMP based on these ideas show that it should be observable at the high-luminosity LHC, nominally at the 5$\sigma$ level with 500 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, and it may already have been observed by Fermi-LAT and AMS-02.