Scale Invariance and Vacuum Energy

Abstract

The possibility of mass in the context of scale-invariant, generally covariant theories, is discussed. Scale invariance is considered in the context of a gravitational theory where the action, in the first order formalism, is of the form $S=\int L_1\Phi d^{4}x$ + $\int L_2\sqrt{-g}{d}^{4}x$ where $\Phi$ is a density built out of degrees of freedom independent of the metric. For global scale invariance, a "dilaton" $\varphi$ has to be introduced, with non-trivial potentials $V(\varphi )$ = $f_1{e}^{\alpha \varphi }$ in $L_1$ and $U(\varphi )$ = $f_2{e}^{2\alpha \varphi }$ in $L_2$. This leads to non-trivial mass generation and a potential for $\varphi$ which is interesting for new inflation. Scale invariant mass terms for fermions lead to a possible explanation of the present day accelerated universe and of cosmic coincidences.

Essay awarded an honorable mention in the 1999 Gravity Research Foundation Competition, Published in Mod. Phys. Lett. A14: 1397 (1999)

Cited by in corpus (21)

• Trace Anomaly in Quantum Spacetime Manifold
• Inflation and Transition to a Slowly Accelerating Phase from S.S.B. of Scale Invariance
• String and Brane Models with Spontaneously/Dynamically Induced Tension
• Fine Tuning Free Paradigm of Two Measures Theory: K-Essence, Absence of Initial Singularity of the Curvature and Inflation with Graceful Exit to Zero Cosmological Constant State
• Exotic Low Density Fermion States in the Two Measures Field Theory: Neutrino Dark Energy
• Absence of the Fifth Force Problem in a Model with Spontaneously Broken Dilatation Symmetry
• Emerging Universe from Scale Invariance
• SSB of scale symmetry, fermion families and quintessence without the long-range force problem
• Lorentzian Quintessential Inflation
• Quintessential Inflation from Lorentzian Slow Roll
• Metric-Independent Measures for Supersymmetric Extended Object Theories on Curved Backgrounds
• Transition to Zero Cosmological Constant and Phantom Dark Energy as Solutions Involving Change of Orientation of Space-Time Manifold
• Bags and Confinement Governed by S.S.B. of Scale Invariance
• The Scale Factor Potential Approach to Inflation
• Conformally Invariant Gauge Theory of 3-Branes in 6D and the Cosmological Constant
• Neutrino generated dynamical dark energy with no dark energy field
• Non Singular Origin of the Universe and its Present Vacuum Energy Density
• Physical vacuum and cosmic coincidence problem
• A Way to Dynamically Overcome the Cosmological Constant Problem
• Cosmology of fermionic dark energy coupled to curvature
• Inflaton as a pseudo-Goldstone boson of vacuum energy shift symmetry