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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
We show that the origin of the dark matter and dark energy problems originates in the assumption of standard Einstein gravity that Newton's constant is fundamental. We discuss an alternate, conformal invariant, metric theory of gravity in which Newton's constant is induced dynamically, with the induced global one which is effective for cosmology being altogether weaker than the induced local one needed for the solar system. We find that in the theory dark matter is no longer needed, and that the accelerating universe data can be fitted without fine-tuning using a cosmological constant as large as particle physics suggests. In the conformal theory then the cosmological constant problem is solved not by quenching the cosmological constant itself but rather by quenching the amount of gravity that it produces.
Host: Carl Bender, T-CNLS