Does Non-Perturbative QCD Have A Cosmological Constant Analog?

A new paper explores a potential parallel between non-perturbative quantum chromodynamics (the physics of the strong force that binds quarks into hadronic structures) and gravity. This isn't entirely surprising, as both are non-abelian gauge theories. And, it suggests that features like the cosmological constant may have a natural source in a non-abelian quantum gravity theory.

Einsteins gravity with a cosmological constant Λ in four dimensions can be reformulated as a λϕ^4 theory characterized solely by the dimensionless coupling λ∝G(N)Λ (G(N) being Newton's constant). The quantum triviality of this theory drives λ → 0, and a deviation from this behavior could be generated by matter couplings. Here, we study the significance of this conformal symmetry and its breaking in modeling non-perturbative QCD. The hadron spectra and correlation functions are studied holographically in an AdS(5) geometry with induced cosmological constants on four-dimensional hypersurface. 

Our analysis shows that the experimentally measured spectra of the ρ and a(1) mesons, including their excitations and decay constants, favour a non-vanishing induced cosmological constant in both hard-wall and soft-wall models. Although this behavior is not as sharp in the soft-wall model as in the hard-wall model, it remains consistent. Furthermore, we show that the correction to the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation has an inverse dependence on the induced cosmological constant, underscoring its significance in holographic descriptions of low-energy QCD.

Mathew Thomas Arun, Nabeel Thahirm, "On the role of cosmological constant in modeling hadrons" arXiv:2510.06380 (October 7, 2025).