On the mystery of the cosmic vacuum energy density

Abstract

After a short history of the $\Lambda$-term it is explained why the (effective) cosmological constant is expected to obtain contributions from short-distance physics, corresponding to an energy at least as large as the Fermi scale. The actual tiny value of the cosmological constant by particle physics standards represents, therefore, one of the deepest mysteries of present-day fundamental physics. Recent proposals of an approach to the cosmological constant problem which make use of (large) extra dimensions are briefly discussed. Cosmological models with a dynamical $\Lambda$, which attempt to avoid the disturbing cosmic coincidence problem, are also reviewed.

arXiv comment15 pages with one figure, uses special proceedings style. Invited talk at the third international conference on Dark Matter in Astro- and Particle Physics, DARK 2000, Heidelberg, Germany, July 10-16 (2000)

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• On the Cosmological Constant Problems and the Astronomical Evidence for a Homogeneous Energy Density with Negative Pressure
• Phantom-Like Behavior in $f(R)$-Gravity
• Crossing the phantom divide line in the Holographic dark energy model in a closed universe
• Wormhole Spaces: the Common Cause for the Black Hole Entropy-Area Law,the Holographic Principle and Quantum Entanglement
• Phantom-like effects in asymmetric brane embedding with induced gravity and the Gauss-Bonnet term in the Bulk
• The Statistical Mechanics of Microscopic Long-Range Bulk-Boundary Dependence in Black-Hole Physics and Holography
• Quantum Theory as emergent from an undulatory translocal Sub-Quantum Level
• Spacetime Fluctuations and the Cosmological Constant Problem