Black Hole Constraints on Varying Fundamental Constants

Here 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 t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2007-08
Main Author: MacGibbon, Jane H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Big Bang theory
Black holes
Cosmic microwave background
Deposition
Fine structure
Line spectra
Quasars
Thermodynamics
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Here 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 ((Delta alpha) / alpha) ~ 2 x 10^-23 per second. This value matches the variation measured by Webb et al. 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:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.0706.2188