Resource Letter AP-1: The anthropic principle

Balashov, Yuri

doi:10.1119/1.16615

Cited by 53 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Enz and Thellung ( [24] p.842) have pointed out that Pauli already in his early years (mid-late 1920s) were concerned about the gravitational effects of such zero-point energy. According to Enz and Thellung, Pauli in fact made a calculation showing that if the gravitational effect of the zero-point energies was taken into account (applying a cut-off on the zero-point 5 As will be indicated below, however, the 'observational history' of the cosmological constant has influenced the speculations of the quantum vacuum, for instance those of Lemaître and Zeldovich. We also note that a need for a small astronomical dictated Λ -if confirmed -would add a further constraint on possible cancellation mechanisms for the huge vacuum energy in quantum theory.…”

Section: Early Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The quantum vacuum and the cosmological constant problem

Rugh¹,

Zinkernagel

2002

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in

175

167

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-The cosmological constant problem arises at the intersection between general relativity and quantum field theory, and is regarded as a fundamental problem in modern physics. In this paper we describe the historical and conceptual origin of the cosmological constant problem which is intimately connected to the vacuum concept in quantum field theory. We critically discuss how the problem rests on the notion of physical real vacuum energy, and which relations between general relativity and quantum field theory are assumed in order to make the problem well-defined.

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Section: Early Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For a extensive list of references on the anthropic principle, see Balashov [5]. speculate on conditions in other universes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The quantum vacuum and the cosmological constant problem

Rugh¹,

Zinkernagel

2002

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in

175

167

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“…4 4 Discussions of selection effects often turn heated when somebody mentions the "A-word", anthropic. The author feels that discussions of the so-called anthropic principle [63][64][65][66] have generated more heat than light, largely because of a preponderance of different and mutually incompatible definitions and interpretations of what it means. The author is not aware of anybody disagreeing with what might be termed MAP, the "minimalistic anthropic principle": When testing fundamental theories with observational data, ignoring selection effects can give incorrect conclusions.…”

Section: Reference Objectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What does inflation really predict?

Tegmark

2005

J. Cosmol. Astropart. Phys.

189

232

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If the inflaton potential has multiple minima, as may be expected in, e.g., the string theory "landscape", inflation predicts a probability distribution for the cosmological parameters describing spatial curvature (Ωtot), dark energy (ρΛ, w, etc.), the primordial density fluctuations (Q, ns, dns/d ln k, etc.) and primordial gravitational waves (r, nt, etc.). We compute this multivariate probability distribution for various classes of single-field slow-roll models, exploring its dependence on the characteristic inflationary energy scales, the shape of the potential V and and the choice of measure underlying the calculation. We find that unless the characteristic scale ∆φ on which V varies happens to be near the Planck scale, the only aspect of V that matters observationally is the statistical distribution of its peaks and troughs. For all energy scales and plausible measures considered, we obtain the predictions Ωtot ≈ 1 ± 10 −5 , w = −1 and ρΛ in the observed ballpark but uncomfortably high. The high energy limit predicts ns ≈ 0.96, dns/d ln k ≈ −0.0006, r ≈ 0.15 and nt ≈ −0.02, consistent with observational data and indistinguishable from eternal V ∝ φ 2 inflation. The low-energy limit predicts 5 parameters but prefers larger Q and redder ns than observed. We discuss the coolness problem, the smoothness problem and the pothole paradox, which severely limit the viable class of models and measures. Predictions insensitive to pre-inflationary conditions can arise either from eternal inflation attractor behavior or from anthropic selection effects probing merely a tiny non-special part of the initial distribution. We argue that these two mechanisms are severely challenged by the coolness problem and the smoothness problem, respectively. Our findings bode well for detecting an inflationary gravitational wave signature with future CMB polarization experiments, with the arguably best-motivated single-field models favoring the detectable level r ∼ 0.03.

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“…There is a clear distinction between the Weak Anthropic Principle ('WAP') from the Strong Anthropic Principle ('SAP') [68,69]. The former is an unobjectionable selection principle ('we can only view the universe from space-time regions that allow our existence'), while the latter is a highly disputable philosophical claim ('the universe must allow the existence of life'), argued on a number of different grounds, for example the need for observers to exist in order that quantum theory can make sense.…”

Section: The Existence Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Cosmology and Local Physics

Ellis

2002

Int. J. Mod. Phys. A

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This article is dedicated to the memory of Dennis Sciama. It revisits a series of issues to which he devoted much time and effort, regarding the relationship between local physics and the large scale structure of the universe -in particular, Olber's paradox, Mach's principle, and the various arrows of time. Thus the focus is various ways in which local physics is influenced by the universe itself.

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Resource Letter AP-1: The anthropic principle

Cited by 53 publications

References 0 publications

The quantum vacuum and the cosmological constant problem

The quantum vacuum and the cosmological constant problem

What does inflation really predict?

Cosmology and Local Physics

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