Physicist Despairs over Vacuum Energy
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Channel: Sabine Hossenfelder
Views: 229,633
Rating: 4.9384089 out of 5
Keywords: physics, science, vacuum, vacuum energy, what is vacuum energy, quantum vacuum, einstein, einstein's field equations, general relativity, universe, expansion of universe, vacuum fluctuations, cosmological constant, cosmological constant explained, hossenfelder, science without the gobbledygook
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Length: 11min 25sec (685 seconds)
Published: Sat Aug 14 2021
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Physicist Despairs over Vacuum Energy
The biggest discrepancy in all of physics is the approximately 10120 difference between the energy density of the universe obtained from general relativity (GR) compared to the energy density of the vacuum obtained from quantum mechanics (QM). Cosmological observation proves that the universe is flat spacetime on the large scale. According to GR this implies that the universe on the large scale matches the “critical” energy density of about 8.5×10-10 J/m3 . This number includes ordinary matter, dark matter and dark energy. On the other hand, QM and field theory says that there is tremendous energy density in the vacuum itself that is roughly 10120 times greater than the critical density. This is known as: vacuum energy, zero point energy, vacuum foam, etc. and has nothing to do with dark energy or the cosmological constant. Quantum field theory says that all fundamental particles are excitations in their respective fields. These fields also imply tremendous energy density. For example, the Higgs field has been calculated to possess about 1046 J/m3. Does this vacuum energy density really exist or is it canceled out by some unknown effect? How is this vacuum energy reconciled with GR which specifies a critical density to achieve flat spacetime?
In dense aether model problem with vacuum energy concept is solely analogous to definition of water surface density. From perspective of surface ripples water surface is nearly empty and they can propagate across it at large distance. But with respect of underwater sound waves it's pretty dense environment full of Brownian noise instead.
The whole point of vacuum catastrophe paradox is, formal equations of physics describe noisy space-time (mem)brane from extrinsic (quantum mechanics) and intrinsic perspectives (general relativity), which developed independently and in relative isolation each other. From formal math equations one wouldn't realize the geometry on which these equations are based - a deeper holistic insight is needed.
The vacuum catastrophe related to many inherited problems of mainstream physics, like the black hole entropy paradox. Black holes are objects, in which intrinsic perspective less or more seamlessly transforms into extrinsic one. So that one can describe them with both sets of equations, which would never fit each other though...
"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off"
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