Abstract
The cosmological constant, within the Einstein field equation (EFE), is the leading method to account for the discovered accelerating expansion of the universe, whether or not an underlying cause is understood. The Einstein tensor within the EFE has proven to be the only tensor that meets a number of properties (divergence-free second rank tensor, etc.) as derived from the Riemann curvature tensor and the metric g. We point out however, simply from summation of tensors and the fundamental theorem of calculus, that this uniqueness of properties does not extend to a differential equation with a non-zero constant of integration. It is important to fully understand why these properties are required to maintain our current cosmological model of attractive gravity. If this were in error it would raise profound questions of how the accelerating expansion relates to not only a gravitationally repulsive cosmological constant, but to our entire understanding of physics.
Jeff Baugher