  An inconsistency of quantum field theory, regarding the signs of vacuum
energy and vacuum pressure of elementary fields versus non-elementary fields
(like e.g. phonon fields), is pointed out. An improved law for the canonical
quantization of fields is presented, which is based on the distinction between
elementary and non-elementary fields. Remarkably, the improved quantization
method removes not only the inconsistency of quantum field theory, but at the
same time solves the (old) cosmological constant problem for all fields of the
standard model of elementary particles (but not for the hypothetical inflaton
fields), without compromising any of the achievements of established quantum
field theory.
