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Cosmological bounds on spatial variations of physical constants

John D. Barrow

  • DAMTP, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge University, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, United Kingdom

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Phys. Rev. D 71, 083520 – Published 28 April, 2005

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.71.083520

Abstract

We derive strong bounds on any possible large-scale spatial variation in the values of physical constants whose space-time evolution is driven by a scalar field. These limits are imposed by the isotropy of the microwave background on large angular scales in theories which describe space and time variations in the fine structure constant, α, the electron-proton mass ratio, μ, and the Newtonian gravitational constant, G. Large-scale spatial fluctuations in the fine structure constant are bounded by δα/α≲2×10−9 and δα/α≲1.2×10−8 in the Bekenstein-Sandvik-Barrow-Magueijo and varying-speed-of-light theories, respectively, fluctuations in the electron-proton mass ratio by δμ/μ≲9×10−5 in the Barrow-Magueijo theory and fluctuations in G by δG/G≲3.6×10−10 in the Brans-Dicke theory. These derived bounds are significantly stronger than any obtainable by direct observations of astrophysical objects at the present time.

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Phys. Rev. D 71, 083520– Published 28 April, 2005
  • Received 22 March 2005

© 2005 American Physical Society

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