Quantum Universe Lectures

Status and Perspective of Dark Energy (1/3)

by Alexander Westphal (T (Cosmology))

Europe/Berlin
Building. 2a, Seminar Room 2 (DESY)

Building. 2a, Seminar Room 2

DESY

Description

Introduction to Dark Energy

We will discuss some of the theoretical aspects of the phenomenon of dark energy: Given the observational evidence for its presence in the present-day universe, we will first discuss the problem which dark energy poses for theoretical particle physics and cosmology in its purest form, the cosmological constant (CC) problem. Based on Weinberg’s no-go theorem this will lead us to realize that accommodating the extraordinarily tiny scale of present-day dark energy needs some form of landscape of dark energy states with a population mechanism. This applies to both a description of dark energy as a CC or as a fine-tuned form of `rolling’ scalar field. Time permitting, we will comment on the connections to the construction of meta-stable de Sitter (dS) vacua with stabilized extra dimensions in string theory and the recent Swampland program of constraining EFTs using quantum gravity.


The lecture takes place at DESY, building 2a, seminar room 2. It is recommended to wear masks during the lecture and follow distance regulations. You may also follow the lecture via Zoom:  
https://uni-hamburg.zoom.us/j/92293543262  
(Meeting ID: 922 9354 3262, Passcode: 97540703)


PhD students in QURS who want to acquire credits for attending these lectures are requested to register for the course via Geventis until 14 April: https://www.geventis.uni-hamburg.de/course?course=6576712756928538337

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