Abstract
The cosmological constant, also known as dark energy, was believed to be caused by vacuum fluctuations, but naive calculations give results in stark disagreement with fact. In the Casimir effect, vacuum fluctuations cause forces in dielectric media, which is very well described by Lifshitz theory. Recently, using the analogy between geometries and media, a cosmological constant of the correct order of magnitude was calculated with Lifshitz theory (Leonhardt 2019 Ann. Phys. (New York) 411, 167973. (doi:10.1016/j.aop.2019.167973)). This paper discusses the empirical evidence and the ideas behind the Lifshitz theory of the cosmological constant without requiring prior knowledge of cosmology and quantum field theory.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The next generation of analogue gravity experiments’.
Highlights
In the Casimir effect, vacuum fluctuations cause forces in dielectric media, which is very well described by Lifshitz theory
Using the analogy between geometries and media, a cosmological constant of the correct order of magnitude was calculated with Lifshitz theory
The bare vacuum energy and stress has not appeared in any experimental test of Casimir forces, nor does it appear in cosmology
Summary
Cite this article: Leonhardt U. 2020 The case for a Casimir cosmology. Phil. One contribution of 12 to a discussion meeting issue ‘The generation of analogue gravity experiments’. The cosmological constant, known as dark energy, was believed to be caused by vacuum fluctuations, but naive calculations give results in stark disagreement with fact. In the Casimir effect, vacuum fluctuations cause forces in dielectric media, which is very well described by Lifshitz theory. Using the analogy between geometries and media, a cosmological constant of the correct order of magnitude was calculated with Lifshitz theory This paper discusses the empirical evidence and the ideas behind the Lifshitz theory of the cosmological constant without requiring prior knowledge of cosmology and quantum field theory. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The generation of analogue gravity experiments’
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