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IOP PUBLISHING Rep. Prog. Phys. 70 (2007) 883–897

REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS doi:10.1088/0034-4885/70/6/R01

Fundamentalist physics: why Dark Energy is bad for astronomy
Simon D M White Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Garching bei M¨ nchen, Germany u Received 19 March 2007, in final form 10 April 2007 Published 16 May 2007 Online at stacks.iop.org/RoPP/70/883

Abstract Astronomers carry out observations to explore the diverse processes and objects which populate our Universe. High-energy physicists carry out experiments to approach the Fundamental Theory underlying space, time and matter. Dark Energy is a unique link between them, reflecting deep aspects of the Fundamental Theory, yet apparently accessible only through astronomical observation. Large sections of the two communities have therefore converged in support of astronomical projects to constrain Dark Energy. In this essay I argue that this convergence can be damaging for astronomy. The two communities have different methodologies and different scientific cultures. By uncritically adopting the values of an alien system, astronomers risk undermining the foundations of their own current success and endangering the future vitality of their field. Dark Energy is undeniably an interesting problem to tackle through astronomical observation, but it is one of many and not necessarily the one where significant progress is most likely to follow a major investment of resources. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

This article was invited by Professor J Silk. 0034-4885/07/060883+15$90.00 © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd Printed in the UK 883

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S D M White

Contents

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

HST and WMAP The two cultures Dark Matter and Dark Energy So why is Dark Energy bad for astronomy? What is to be done? Acknowledgments

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The pursuit of a deeper truth, of a fundamental theory which