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Article
Random Values of the Cosmological Constant
Journal of High Energy Physics (2000)
  • John Donoghue, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Abstract
One way that an anthropic selection mechanism may be manifest in a physical theory involves multiple domains in the universe with different values of the physical parameters. If this mechanism is to be relevant for understanding the small observed value of the cosmological constant, it may involve a mechanism by which some contributions to the cosmological constant can be fixed at a continuous range of values in the different domains. I study the properties of four possible mechanisms, including the possibility of the Hubble damping of a scalar field with an extremely flat potential. Another interesting possibility involves fixed random values of non-dynamical form fields, and a cosmological mechanism is suggested. This case raises the possibility of anthropic selection of other parameters in addition. Further requirements needed for a consistent cosmology are discussed.
Keywords
  • spontaneous symmetry breaking,
  • superstring vacua,
  • cosmology of theories beyond SM,
  • physics of the early universe
Disciplines
Publication Date
2000
Publisher Statement
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1126-6708/2000/08/022/meta
Citation Information
John Donoghue. "Random Values of the Cosmological Constant" Journal of High Energy Physics Vol. 8 (2000)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/john_donoghue/132/