Heuristic Estimation of the Vacuum Energy Density of the Universe: Part I—Analysis Based on Time Domain Electromagnetic Radiation

Abstract

In this paper, an inequality satisfied by the vacuum energy density of the universe is derived using an indirect and heuristic procedure. The derivation is based on a proposed thought experiment, according to which an electron is accelerated to a constant and relativistic speed at a distance L from a perfectly conducting plane. The charge of the electron is represented by a spherical charge distribution located within the Compton wavelength of the electron. Subsequently, the electron is incident on the perfect conductor giving rise to transition radiation. The energy associated with the transition radiation depends on the parameter L . It is shown that an inequality satisfied by the vacuum energy density will emerge when the length L is pushed to cosmological dimensions and the product of the radiated energy and the time duration of emission are constrained by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. The inequality derived is given by ρ Λ ≤ 9.9×10 -9 J/m 3 where ρ Λ is the vacuum energy density. This result is consistent with the measured value of the vacuum energy density, which is 0.538 × 10 -9 J/m. Since there is a direct relationship between the vacuum energy density and the Einstein’s cosmological constant, the inequality can be converted directly to that of the cosmological constant.