Quantization of Four-form Fluxes and Dynamical Neutralization of the Cosmological Constant

Quantization of Four-form Fluxes and Dynamical Neutralization of the Cosmological Constant

26 Jun 2000 | Raphael Bousso, Joseph Polchinski
This paper discusses the quantization of four-form fluxes and their role in dynamically neutralizing the cosmological constant. The authors argue that the four-form flux, which is often assumed to take continuous values, actually satisfies a generalized Dirac quantization condition. This means that the actual value of the four-form flux is quantized, with the spacing of energy densities being much larger than the observed cosmological constant. In theories with multiple four-form fluxes, the allowed values can form a dense 'discretuum', allowing the universe to reach a small cosmological constant through repeated nucleation of membranes. The paper explores the cosmology resulting from this mechanism, including the resolution of the 'gap problem' and the 'empty universe problem' through reheating and inflation. The authors conclude that their mechanism can naturally produce a universe with a small cosmological constant, consistent with observations.This paper discusses the quantization of four-form fluxes and their role in dynamically neutralizing the cosmological constant. The authors argue that the four-form flux, which is often assumed to take continuous values, actually satisfies a generalized Dirac quantization condition. This means that the actual value of the four-form flux is quantized, with the spacing of energy densities being much larger than the observed cosmological constant. In theories with multiple four-form fluxes, the allowed values can form a dense 'discretuum', allowing the universe to reach a small cosmological constant through repeated nucleation of membranes. The paper explores the cosmology resulting from this mechanism, including the resolution of the 'gap problem' and the 'empty universe problem' through reheating and inflation. The authors conclude that their mechanism can naturally produce a universe with a small cosmological constant, consistent with observations.
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