'The End'

Understand

Recently we proposed a mechanism for sequestering the Standard Model vacuum energy that predicts that the universe will collapse.

• Here we present a simple mechanism for bringing about this collapse, employing a scalar field whose potential is linear and becomes negative, providing the negative energy density required to end the expansion.
• The slope of the potential is chosen to allow for the expansion to last until the current Hubble time, about $10^{10}$ years, to accommodate our universe.
• Crucially, this choice is technically natural due to a shift symmetry.