An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

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فرهنگ ریشه‌شناختی اخترشناسی-اخترفیزیک

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false vacuum
  خلاء ِ زیف  
xala'-e zif
Fr.: faux vide  

A peculiar, hypothetical state of matter which is predicted to exist by current theories of → elementary particles, including the → grand unified theories. Unlike the ordinary vacuum, a false vacuum has a large → energy density and a large → negative pressure. A false vacuum is the driving force behind the rapid expansion in the → inflationary model of the → Universe.

See also: → false; → vacuum.