There seems to be an error either with quantum electrodynamics (QED) and stochastic electrodynamics (SED) or Wikipedia.
Note the critical density of the universe is in the order of 10-26 kg/m3 which means that the critical energy density of the universe (given that E=mc2) is in the order of 10-9 J/m3.
Note also for a universe with a radius of one Planck length, at an age of once Planck time and a corresponding Hubble parameter value of one inverse Planck time, the critical density would be in the order of 1096 kg/m3 which corresponds with a critical energy density in the order of 10113 J/m3.
A vacuum energy of 10113 J/m3 beyond the spacetime origin of our universe is ridiculous. As an example, the Earth has an average density of 5515 kg/m3, which is equivalent to an energy density of 5x1020 J/m3 – meaning that if the vacuum had a density of 10113 J/m3, it would swamp us. We’d not even be a rounding error.
Whether QED/SED is wrong, or Wikipedia contains a misinterpretation of the writings of Peter Milonni and/or de la Pena and Cetto, I don’t actually know. But anyone suggesting such a huge magnitude of vacuum energy density should really go back and check their figures.
I am certainly not going to stay awake at night worrying about the cosmological constant problem (or whether I need to worry about it being a slam dunk for Fine Tuners).
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