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It just turns out that the dark energy density Λ or cosmological constant is of such a size that
3pi/Λ = the surface area of the observable universe
Smolin calls the surface of the observable universe "the cosmological horizon" and treats it in the same paragraphs with black hole event horizons. Both are kinds of horizons. According to LQG both sorts of areas must be integers when expressed in natural units ("quantized in steps of the Planck area")
Also according to LQG the reciprocal of Λ is quantized.
Smolin says that 6pi/Λ must be an integer. It is the dimension of some finite dimensional Hilbert space important in quantum cosmology.
The usual figure for the (current) radius of the observable is about 40 billion lightyears. So the cosmological horizon is this expanding spherical surface with (current) area 7.3E123
And meanwhile 3pi/Λ turns out to be currently the same 7.3E123
The cosmological horizon is receding at about 3c (Ned Wright's tutorial has a good explanation, its also in the FAQ). No connection is assumed between Lambda and the area, at least by me, but the coincidence of the two numbers is striking and if they are connected then, since the area is expanding this means Lambda is diminishing----asymptotic to zero----a declining rate of acceleration leading to continued expansion (but no longer noticeably accelerating expansion)
Smolin has a good survey of QG
arXiv:hep-th/0303185
quite recent, John Baez reviewed it in his latest column
3pi/Λ = the surface area of the observable universe
Smolin calls the surface of the observable universe "the cosmological horizon" and treats it in the same paragraphs with black hole event horizons. Both are kinds of horizons. According to LQG both sorts of areas must be integers when expressed in natural units ("quantized in steps of the Planck area")
Also according to LQG the reciprocal of Λ is quantized.
Smolin says that 6pi/Λ must be an integer. It is the dimension of some finite dimensional Hilbert space important in quantum cosmology.
The usual figure for the (current) radius of the observable is about 40 billion lightyears. So the cosmological horizon is this expanding spherical surface with (current) area 7.3E123
And meanwhile 3pi/Λ turns out to be currently the same 7.3E123
The cosmological horizon is receding at about 3c (Ned Wright's tutorial has a good explanation, its also in the FAQ). No connection is assumed between Lambda and the area, at least by me, but the coincidence of the two numbers is striking and if they are connected then, since the area is expanding this means Lambda is diminishing----asymptotic to zero----a declining rate of acceleration leading to continued expansion (but no longer noticeably accelerating expansion)
Smolin has a good survey of QG
arXiv:hep-th/0303185
quite recent, John Baez reviewed it in his latest column
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