The observation that the expansion of the Universe is proceeding at an ever-increasing rate, i. e. the "dark energy" problem, constitutes a crisis in fundamental physics that is as profound as the one that preceded the advent of quantum mechanics. Cosmological observations currently favor a dark energy equation-of-state parameter w = P/rho = -1. Awkwardly, this is the value that has the least ability to discriminate between alternatives for the physics that produces the observed accelerating expansion. If this result persists we therefore run a very real risk of stagnation in our attempt to better understand the nature of this new physics, unless we uncover another piece of the dark energy puzzle. I argue that precision fundamental measurements in space have an important role in addressing this crisis.
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机译：关于宇宙膨胀正在以越来越高的速度进行的观察，即e。 “暗能量”问题构成了基础物理学领域的危机，这一危机与量子力学问世之前的危机一样深刻。当前的宇宙学观察倾向于暗能量状态方程参数w = P / rho = -1。尴尬的是，这是区分产生观察到的加速膨胀的物理方法的能力最小的值。如果这一结果持续存在，那么我们将极有可能陷入停滞状态，以便更好地理解这种新物理学的性质，除非我们发现了暗能量难题的另一部分。我认为，在太空中进行精确的基础测量对于解决这一危机具有重要作用。
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