Cosmological Bounds on Spatial Variations of Physical Constants
نویسنده
چکیده
We place strong observational limits on any possible large-scale spatial variation in the values of physical ’constants’ whose space-time evolution is driven by a scalar field. The 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 electronproton mass ratio, μ, and the Newtonian gravitational constant, G. Largescale spatial fluctuations in the fine structure constant are bounded by δα/α . 2× 10 and δα/α . 1.2× 10 in the BSBM and VSL theories respectively, fluctuations in the electron-proton mass ratio by δμ/μ . 9× 10 in the BM theory and fluctuations in G by δG/G . 3.6× 10 in Brans-Dicke theory. These bounds are significantly stronger than any obtainable by direct observations of astrophysical objects at the present time. PACS Nos: 98.80.Es, 98.80.Bp, 98.80.Cq
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