The cosmological constant (Λ) as a possible primordial link to Einstein’s theory of gravity, the properties of hadronic matter and the problem of creation

Abstract

Einstein’s field equations with a cosmological constant (Λ) are explored in an isotropic, homogeneous, expanding universe which satisfies the principle of absolute quark confinement. What emerges from these requirements are new cosmologies free from singularities in physical quantities and with time-varying gravitational (G) and cosmological (Λ) parameters. For the caseG=const and Λ=Λ(t), it is suggested that hadronic matter was created in the early universe as a localized, quantum fluctuation of the vacuum, because |Λ| had an initial value ≈10−10/cm2. The localized fluctuation persisted and evolved into the universe visible today, because |Λ| decreased rapidly with cosmic time. In this sense, «creation» (i.e. «the beginning»)—a manifestly energy-nonconserving event—was linked to a time-varying Λ. which, in turn, was linked to the principle of absolute quark confinement. For the case Λ=Λ(t) andG=G(t), withG, |Λ| larger in the past, the maximum values ofG, |Λ| compatible with absolute quark confinement are those required by the principle of maximum strength,i.e.Gmax≈1040G (whereG=6.67·10−8 dyn cm2/g2) and ¦Λ¦max≈1030/cm2. In spite of the wide variations in the numerical values ofG, |Λ| for both cases, the new cosmologies give the same numerical values for the physical characteristics of the early universe,i.e. maximum hadronic mass density ≈1017 g/cm3, minimum radius ≈1013 cm, maximum temperature ≈1012 K (the limiting temperature for hadronic matter, first noticed by Hagedorn). This circumstance exists because the physical numbers depend only on the ratio |Λ|/G evaluated at cosmic timet=τ (where τ is defined as the «moment of creation»).