Ever-present Lambda and the Quantum Potential of Spacetime

Abstract

An approach to dark energy is presented that combines ideas of causal set theory with a Machian perspective and a treatment of spacetime as a condensate, yielding a “quantum potential of spacetime” Q whose density ρ_Q acts as an effective Λ that satisfies the uncertainty relation ∆V∆Λ ~ 1 of unimodular relativity. In contrast to the ever-present Λ of causal set theory, ρ_Q’s value is always non-negative, and the nonlocality of Q ensures that ρ_Q is spatially homogeneous, in accordance with observation.