Vacuum Energy

[Kyrisch]

I was thinking about the concept of vacuum energy and how little is known about it. I had been giving thought to, similarly, how little is really known about gravity. For instance, the other similar force, electromagnetism ([math]F = \frac{C x_1 x_2} {R^2} [/math] for both forces where [math]C[/math] is the constant and [math]x_1 / x_2 [/math] are the two masses/charges) there is an attractive and a repulsive aspect to it whereas no repulsive aspect of gravity has been yet observed.

 

From the equation, the parallel between charge and mass for the two forces can be drawn. Which lead me to think: From our present understanding, there seems to be a net repulsive force in a vacuum when the mass per unit volume of said vacuum drops below some critical point. As such, perhaps this mysterious force is the 'opposite' aspect of gravity. If there is an attractive force between two bodies with mass, perhaps there is a repulsive force between two bodies of non-mass, or two vacuums.

[doG]

Kind in mind that a vacuum is nothing more than the absence of atmospheric pressure thus, a perfect vacuum is simply 0 PSIA.

[Kyrisch]

Kind in mind that a vacuum is nothing more than the absence of atmospheric pressure thus, a perfect vacuum is simply 0 PSIA.

 

You must have misunderstood what I was saying; I am instead referring to the vacuum energy hypothesised to be caused by virtual particles, sort of like the net attractive force experienced by two metal plates placed extremely close to one another due to the Casimir Effect, not simple phenomena of pressure.

[swansont]

The Casimir force is attractive, though, not repulsive.

[Kyrisch]

So it is obviously not the Casimir Effect, though it could be related. Virtual particles are the hypothesised culprits of the force, but I am proffering another possible reason for its existence.

[Mr Skeptic]

I think it's called Dark Energy.

[Klaynos]

I think it's called Dark Energy.

 

Dark energy is some unknown mechanism that is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate....