Black hole constraints on varying fundamental constants

We apply the generalized second law of thermodynamics and derive upper limits on the variation in the fundamental constants. The maximum variation in the electronic charge permitted for black holes accreting and emitting in the present cosmic microwave background corresponds to a variation in the fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2007-08, Vol.99 (6), p.061301-061301, Article 061301
Main Author: MacGibbon, Jane H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABSORPTION
BACKGROUND RADIATION
BLACK HOLES
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC PHOTONS
ELECTRONS
FINE STRUCTURE
FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS
QUASARS
RELICT RADIATION
SPECTRA
THERMODYNAMICS
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Summary:We apply the generalized second law of thermodynamics and derive upper limits on the variation in the fundamental constants. The maximum variation in the electronic charge permitted for black holes accreting and emitting in the present cosmic microwave background corresponds to a variation in the fine-structure constant of Deltaalpha/alpha approximately 2 x 10(-23) per second. This value matches the variation measured by Webb et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 884 (1999); Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 091301 (2001)] using absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars and suggests the variation mechanism may be a coupling between the electron and the cosmic photon background.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.061301