Electron Born self-energy model for Dark Energy

Dark Energy, a form of repulsive gravity, is causing an accelerated expansion of the Universe. Recent astrophysical measurements have confirmed this accelerated expansion where the LCDM model provides a quantitative description of this expansion rate. As is well known there are a number of free parameters of unknown origin in the LCDM model, in particular, the cosmological constant L (or Dark Energy (DE)) forms one of these free parameters. In this contribution we describe a recent model which attributes DE to the Born self-energy contained within the electric field which surrounds a finite-sized electron within the WHIM (Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium). Upon using readily available literature values for the intergalactic (IG) baryon density, IG hydrogen ionization fraction, the best estimate for the electron radius, as well as, Hubble parameter data many properties attributed to DE can be quantitatively explained. In particular, our model quantitively explains

(i) the magnitude of DE today,

(ii) the DE to ordinary matter mass ratio today,

(iii) has an equation of state of w = -1, as expected for DE, and

(iv) exhibits a deceleration-acceleration transition at a redshift of z ~ 0.8 in agreement with Hubble parameter observations.

(v) Finally, the model provides a viable candidate for Dark Matter; the CDM in the LCDM model.

Further detail concerning this DE model can be found in Astrophys. Space Sci 365, 64 (2020).