A term in the equations of general relativity that represents a repulsive force in the universe. The cosmological constant is usually assumed to be zero.
a modification of general relativity's original equations, allowing for a static universe; interpretable as a constant energy density of the vacuum.
A term added to the field equations by Einstein in order to allow solutions in which the universe was static; that is, neither expanding nor contracting. Although the need for the term disappeared when it was discovered that the universe is expanding, the cosmological constant is retained in the field equations by modern cosmologists, but is usually assigned the value zero.
A term in Einstein's general relativity equations that works in the opposite sense of gravity. Einstein used it to force the existence of a static Universe. Usually denoted by the capital Greek letter Lambda when expressed with units of inverse length squared, or by the lower-case Greek lambda when normalized to the critical density (like Omega).
mathematical term involving a repulsive force, which Einstein introduced into his field equations in the general theory of relativity to counteract the self gravitation of the Universe.
an extra term Albert Einstein put in his equations of General Relativity that would act as a repulsive form of gravity to balance the attractive nature of gravity and keep the universe static.
an arbitrary constant in the equations of general relativity theory
a term Einstein added to his equations of the general theory of relativity, to account for an apparently non-expanding Universe, but later rejected when Hubble's observations seemed to indicate it was not needed. Can be interpreted as a special form of Dark Energy.
An addition to Einstein's general relativity. It allows the universe to be static by making it innately expanding to counteract gravitational attraction. It can be interpreted as a constant energy density of the vacuum of space.
A mathematical device used by Einstein to give space-time an inbuilt tendency to expand.
A mathematical device used by Einstein to keep the Universe from falling in on itself. He later called this his "greatest blunder", because it kept him from predicting the expansion of the Universe. Astrophysicists now believe there may be a use for the cosmological constant.
Postulated by Albert Einstein, the cosmological constant is a repulsive force which grows stronger as distance increases. Einstein introduced the cosmological constant to allow for a static universe, one that neither expands nor contracts. Years later after conclusive evidence had been gathered that the universe is expanding, Einstein referred to the cosmological constant as the greatest mistake of his career. However since the late 1990's, astronomers have gathered evidence indicating the universal expansion is accelerating. As a result, belief in a repulsive force such as that postulated Einstein has gained renewed support.
A constant term—labeled lambda—that Einstein added to his General Theory of Relativity in the mistaken belief that the universe is neither expanding nor contracting. The cosmological constant was found to be unnecessary once observations indicated the universe is indeed expanding. Had Einstein believed what his equations were telling him, he could have claimed the expansion of the universe as perhaps the greatest and most convincing preproductnameion of General Relativity. He called this the “greatest blunder of my life.
A modification of the equations of general relativity that represents a possible repulsive force in the universe. The cosmological constant could be due to the energy density of the vacuum.
a term in Einstein's general relativity equations that leads to an acceleration of the expansion of the Universe. Usually denoted by the capital Greek letter Lambda when expressed with units of inverse length squared, or by the lower-case Greek lambda when normalized to the critical density like Omega.
The term expressing a hypothesized repulsive force. Einstein added it to his original gravitational theory to enable the theory to predict a static, non-expanding universe. There is no evidence, as yet, to support the existence of such a force.
The cosmological constant (usually denoted by the Greek capital letter lambda: Λ) was proposed by Albert Einstein as part of his theory of general relativity to achieve a stationary universe. After the discovery of the Hubble redshift and the introduction of the expanding space paradigm, Einstein abandoned the concept. However, the discovery of cosmic acceleration in the 1990s has renewed interest in a cosmological constant.