Why Zero-Point Vacuum Energy Is Not a Cosmological Prediction in Quantum Field Theory

Paper 1 — Orthodox QFT paper Title Why Zero-Point Vacuum Energy Is Not a Cosmological Prediction in Quantum Field Theory An Invariance-Based Analysis of the Cosmological Constant Problem Overview This paper analyzes the common claim that quantum field theory makes a catastrophically wrong prediction for the cosmological constant by summing zero-point vacuum modes. The central claim is that the zero-point estimate does not constitute a standalone cosmological prediction. The regulated vacuum-energy expression depends on subtraction convention and renormalization scheme, and therefore does not define an invariant observable of the theory. Core Result The paper shows that absolute zero-point vacuum energy is not independently predictive in QFT. What survives physically are invariant quantities such as: transition frequencies forces and response functions Casimir-type relational observables the measured effective cosmological constant after empirical fixing In semiclassical gravity, finite shifts in matter-sector vacuum energy are degenerate with compensating shifts of the cosmological counterterm. Only the effective combination is identifiable. Scope The result removes the zero-point comparison as a valid prediction-forming procedure. It does not resolve the naturalness, radiative-stability, or matching problem for the observed cosmological constant. Contribution This paper gives the direct physics-facing argument: the alleged discrepancy of about 120 orders of magnitude in scale prediction failure is not a failed prediction of QFT, but an invalid assignment of predictive status to a non-invariant quantity. Paper 1 — Orthodox QFT paper Paper 2 — AASC derivation paper Paper 3 — Bridge paper