Use of Redshifts as Evidence of Dark Energy


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Author / Producer

Date

2025-06

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

Altmetric

Data

Abstract

The large-scale dynamics of the universe is generally described in terms of the time-dependent scale factor a(t). To make contact with observational data, the a(t) function needs to be related to the observable z(r) function, redshift versus distance. Model fitting of data has shown that the equation that governs z(r) needs to contain a constant term, which has been identified as Einstein’s cosmological constant. Here, it is shown that the required constant term is not a cosmological constant but is due to an overlooked geometric difference between proper time t and look-back time tlb along lines of sight, which fan out isotropically in all directions of the 3D (3-dimensional) space that constitutes the observable universe. The constant term is needed to satisfy the requirement of spatial isotropy in the local limit. Its magnitude is independent of the epoch in which the observer lives and agrees with the value found by model fitting of observational data. Two of the observational consequences of this explanation are examined: an increase in the age of the universe from 13.8 Gyr to 15.4 Gyr, and a resolution of the H0 tension, which restores consistency to cosmological theory.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Journal / series

Volume

7 (2)

Pages / Article No.

23

Publisher

MDPI

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

cosmological constant; cosmological models; accelerating universe; stellar ages

Organisational unit

Notes

Funding

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