Accelerating Universe: Einstein’s Blunder Undone
Modern astronomical observations show that the expansion of the Universe is speeding up. This remarkable result is attributed to the effects of a mysterious “dark energy” that pervades the Universec but its nature is not well understood. Albert Einstein introduced a “cosmological constant” into his original equations for General Relativity back in 1917 that has similar properties. His intent was to make a static Universe. But, after the discovery that the universe is expanding in 1929, this cosmological term looked like a big mistake, and it is often referred to as “Einstein’s greatest blunder” (though not by Einstein!) Modern measurements using exploding stars half way across the Universe show that cosmic expansion is speeding up. We attribute this to a “dark energy” with properties very much like the cosmological constant. This newly discovered component makes up 2/3 of the energy-density of the Universe. Programs of observation on the ground and from the Hubble Space Telescope are underway now to pin down the nature of the dark energy, one of the deepest mysteries in physical science.
The Chesley Lectures, made possible by a gift to Carleton’s endowment by Frank and Jean Chesley of Red Wing, Minnesota, each year bring to Carleton outstanding scholar-teachers from selected disciplines for a series of classes, public lectures, faculty seminars and meetings with students.