cosmological constant

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. a term introduced by Einstein into his field equations of general relativity to permit a stationary, nonexpanding universe: it has since been abandoned in most models of the universe.

---

Etymology

Origin of cosmological constant

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

This relationship could help explain the positive cosmological constant associated with the accelerating expansion of the universe.

From Science Daily

"This would be our first indication that dark energy is not the cosmological constant introduced by Einstein over 100 years ago but a new, dynamical phenomenon," explained Josh Frieman, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

From Science Daily

A cosmological constant is a famous part of Einstein's General Relativity theory, and refers to an arbitrary constant that is present in all related field equations.

From Salon

Theorists could account for this force by adding a cosmological constant, lambda, to Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity.

From Science Magazine

One is that dark energy is a cosmological constant, an unchanging property of space, which would mean that the universe would continue to expand indefinitely, sweeping far-off objects forever beyond our local point of view.

From Scientific American