1,002 research outputs found
`c' is the speed of light, isn't it?
Theories proposing a varying speed of light have recently been widely
promoted under the claim that they offer an alternative way of solving the
standard cosmological problems. Recent observational hints that the fine
structure constant may have varied during over cosmological scales also has
given impetus to these models. In theoretical physics the speed of light, ,
is hidden in almost all equations but with different facets that we try to
distinguish. Together with a reminder on scalar-tensor theories of gravity,
this sheds some light on these proposed varying speed of light theories.Comment: 14 pages, Late
Constraints on mode couplings and modulation of the CMB with WMAP data
We investigate a possible asymmetry in the statistical properties of the
cosmic microwave background temperature field and to do so we construct an
estimator aiming at detecting a dipolar modulation. Such a modulation is found
to induce correlations between multipoles with . Applying this
estimator, to the V and W bands of the WMAP data, we found a significant
detection in the V band. We argue however that foregrounds and in particular
point sources are the origin of this signal.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure
A Generalized Theory of Varying Alpha
In this paper, we formulate a generalization of the simple
Bekenstein-Sandvik-Barrow-Magueijo (BSBM) theory of varying alpha by allowing
the coupling constant, \omega, for the corresponding scalar field \psi\ to
depend on \psi. We focus on the situation where \omega\ is exponential in \psi\
and find the late-time behaviours that occur in matter-dominated and
dark-energy dominated cosmologies. We also consider the situation when the
background expansion scale factor of the universe evolves in proportion to an
arbitrary power of the cosmic time. We find the conditions under which the fine
structure `constant' increases with time, as in the BSBM theory, and establish
a cosmic no-hair behaviour for accelerating universes. We also find the
conditions under which the fine structure `constant' can decrease with time and
compare the whole family of models with astronomical data from quasar
absorption spectra.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures. Minor corrections and clarifications added.
Final section on spatial variations removed so that the paper focuses
exclusively on time-variatio
Non-universal scalar-tensor theories and big bang nucleosynthesis
We investigate the constraints that can be set from big-bang nucleosynthesis
on two classes of models: extended quintessence and scalar-tensor theories of
gravity in which the equivalence principle between standard matter and dark
matter is violated. In the latter case, and for a massless dilaton with
quadratic couplings, the phase space of theories is investigated. We delineate
those theories where attraction toward general relativity occurs. It is shown
that big-bang nucleosynthesis sets more stringent constraints than those
obtained from Solar system tests.Comment: 28 pages, 20 figure
Gyromagnetic Factors and Atomic Clock Constraints on the Variation of Fundamental Constants
We consider the effect of the coupled variations of fundamental constants on
the nucleon magnetic moment. The nucleon g-factor enters into the
interpretation of the measurements of variations in the fine-structure
constant, alpha, in both the laboratory (through atomic clock measurements) and
in astrophysical systems (e.g. through measurements of the 21 cm transitions).
A null result can be translated into a limit on the variation of a set of
fundamental constants, that is usually reduced to alpha. However, in specific
models, particularly unification models, changes in alpha are always
accompanied by corresponding changes in other fundamental quantities such as
the QCD scale, Lambda_QCD. This work tracks the changes in the nucleon
g-factors induced from changes in Lambda_QCD and the light quark masses. In
principle, these coupled variations can improve the bounds on the variation of
alpha by an order of magnitude from existing atomic clock and astrophysical
measurements. Unfortunately, the calculation of the dependence of g-factors on
fundamental parameters is notoriously model-dependent.Comment: 35 pages, 3 figures. Discussions of the effects of the polarization
of the non-valence nucleons, spin-spin interaction and nuclear radius on the
nuclear g-factor are added. References added. Matches published versio
Energy production in varying {\alpha} theories
Aims. On the basis the theoretical model proposed by Bekenstein for
{\alpha}'s variation, we analyze the equations that describe the energy
exchange between matter and both the electromagnetic and the scalar fields.
Methods. We determine how the energy flow of the material is modified by the
presence of a scalar field. We estimate the total magnetic energy of matter
from the "sum rules techniques". We compare the results with data obtained from
the thermal evolution of the Earth and other planets. Results. We obtain
stringent upper limits to the variations in {\alpha} that are comparable with
those obtained from atomic clock frequency variations. Conclusions. Our
constraints imply that the fundamental length scale of Bekenstein's theory "lB"
cannot be larger than Planck's length "lP"
Manifestations of a spatial variation of fundamental constants on atomic clocks, Oklo, meteorites, and cosmological phenomena
The remarkable detection of a spatial variation in the fine-structure
constant, alpha, from quasar absorption systems must be independently confirmed
by complementary searches. In this letter, we discuss how terrestrial
measurements of time-variation of the fundamental constants in the laboratory,
meteorite data, and analysis of the Oklo nuclear reactor can be used to
corroborate the spatial variation seen by astronomers. Furthermore, we show
that spatial variation of the fundamental constants may be observable as
spatial anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background, the accelerated
expansion (dark energy), and large-scale structure of the Universe.Comment: 4 page
Distinguishing Marks of Simply-connected Universes
A statistical quantity suitable for distinguishing simply-connected
Robertson-Walker (RW) universes is introduced, and its explicit expressions for
the three possible classes of simply-connected RW universes with an uniform
distribution of matter are determined. Graphs of the distinguishing mark for
each class of RW universes are presented and analyzed.There sprout from our
results an improvement on the procedure to extract the topological signature of
multiply-connected RW universes, and a refined understanding of that
topological signature of these universes studied in previous works.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, LaTeX2e. To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys. D
(2000
Theory Challenges of the Accelerating Universe
The accelerating expansion of the universe presents an exciting, fundamental
challenge to the standard models of particle physics and cosmology. I highlight
some of the outstanding challenges in both developing theoretical models and
interpreting without bias the observational results from precision cosmology
experiments in the next decade that will return data to help reveal the nature
of the new physics. Examples given focus on distinguishing a new component of
energy from a new law of gravity, and the effect of early dark energy on baryon
acoustic oscillations.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures; minor changes to match J. Phys. A versio
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