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Related papers: Variation of $\alpha$ from a Dark Matter Force

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The fundamental constants at recombination can differ from their present-day values due to degeneracies in cosmological parameters, raising the possibility of yet-undiscovered physics coupled directly to the Standard Model. We study the…

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Physics 2025-08-20 Masha Baryakhtar , Olivier Simon , Zachary J. Weiner

If the fine structure constant $\alpha =e^2/(\hbar c)$ were to change, then a number of interpretations would be possible, attributing this change either to variations in the electron charge, the dielectric constant of the vacuum, the speed…

Astrophysics · Physics 2009-10-31 John D. Barrow , Joao Magueijo

We extend our recent work on the effects of a time-varying fine-structure constant $\alpha$ in the cosmic microwave background, by providing a thorough analysis of the degeneracies between $\alpha$ and the other cosmological parameters, and…

We show that observational limits on the possible time variation of constants of Nature are significantly affected by allowing for both space and time variation. Bekenstein's generalisation of Maxwell's equations to allow for cosmological…

Astrophysics · Physics 2009-10-31 John D. Barrow , Chris O'Toole

String effective theories contain a dilaton scalar field which couples to gravity, matter and radiation. In general, particle masses will have different dilaton couplings. We can always choose a conformal frame in which baryons have…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2010-11-30 Juan Garcia-Bellido

Non-standard fields are assumed to be responsible for phenomena attributed to dark energy and dark matter. Being coupled to ordinary matter, these fields modify the masses and/or charges of the elementary particles, thereby violating the…

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Physics 2019-06-19 S. A. Levshakov , K. -W. Ng , C. Henkel , B. Mookerjea , I. I. Agafonova , S. -Y. Liu , W. -H. Wang

Ultralight particles, with a mass below the electronvolt scale, exhibit wave-like behavior and have arisen as a compelling dark matter candidate. A particularly intriguing subclass is scalar dark matter, which induces variations in…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2026-02-10 Xucheng Gan , Da Liu , Di Liu , Xuheng Luo , Bingrong Yu

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…

Atomic Physics · Physics 2012-09-11 J. C. Berengut , V. V. Flambaum

Review of recent works devoted to the temporal and spatial variation of the fundamental constants and dependence of the fundamental constants on the gravitational potential (violation of local position invariance) is presented. We discuss…

Nuclear Theory · Physics 2009-08-18 V. V. Flambaum

Spacetime variations of physical constants can be associated with the existence of Higgs-like scalar field(s) that couple non-universally to the baryonic matter. Recent results of astronomical spectral measurements of the fractional changes…

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Physics 2021-02-03 S. A. Levshakov

In extensions of general relativity and in theories aiming at unifying gravity with the forces of the Standard Model, the value of the "fundamental constants" is often determined by the vacuum expectation value of new fields, which may thus…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2014-03-19 Cosimo Bambi

To explain the recently reported large-scale spatial variations of the fine structure constant $\alpha$, we apply some models of curvature-nonlinear multidimensional gravity. Under the reasonable assumption of slow changes of all quantities…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2013-12-31 K. A. Bronnikov , M. V. Skvortsova

The aim of this paper is to derive limits on various forms of ``new physics'' using atomic experimental data. Interactions with dark energy and dark matter fields can lead to space-time variations of fundamental constants, which can be…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2024-09-24 V. A. Dzuba , V. V. Flambaum , A. J. Mansour

The fine structure constant, $\alpha$, sets the strength of the electromagnetic force. The Standard Model of particle physics provides no explanation for its value, which could potentially vary. The wavelengths of stellar absorption lines…

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics · Physics 2022-11-30 Michael T. Murphy , Daniel A. Berke , Fan Liu , Chris Flynn , Christian Lehmann , Vladimir A. Dzuba , Victor V. Flambaum

We discuss the fundamemtal constants in the Standard Model of particle physics, in particular possible changes of these constants on the cosmological time scale. The Grand Unification of the observed strong, electromagnetic and weak…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2016-10-25 Harald Fritzsch

Bekenstein's model of a scalar field, \phi, that affects the electromagnetic permeability (usually identified with ``changing \alpha'') predicts tiny variations of the effective fine structure constant up to very high red-shifts,…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2009-09-15 Keith A. Olive , Maxim Pospelov

We use recent astrophysical and local tests of the stability of the fine-structure constant, $\alpha$, to constrain a particular phenomenological but physically motivated class of models in which the dark energy equation of state can…

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Physics 2019-03-12 C. J. A. P. Martins , M. Prat Colomer

We study static configurations of dark matter coupled to a scalar field responsible for the dark energy of the Universe. The dark matter is modelled as a Fermi gas within the Thomas-Fermi approximation. The mass of the dark matter particles…

Astrophysics · Physics 2009-11-13 N. Brouzakis , N. Tetradis

There are indications from the study of quasar absorption spectra that the fine structure constant $\alpha$ may have been measurably smaller for redshifts $z>2.$ Analyses of other data ($^{149}$Sm fission rate for the Oklo natural reactor,…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2009-11-10 Luis Anchordoqui , Haim Goldberg

Ultra-light scalar fields may explain the nature of the dark matter in our universe. If such scalars couple quadratically to particles of the Standard Model the scalar acquires an effective mass which depends on the local matter energy…

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology · Physics 2026-03-04 Clare Burrage , Angus Macdonald , Michael P. Ross , Gray Rybka , Elisa Todarello