Black Hole Constraints on Varying Fundamental Constants

Abstract

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.

5 pages, published version

References in corpus (3)

• Further Evidence for Cosmological Evolution of the Fine Structure Constant
• A Search for Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant
• Further evidence for a variable fine-structure constant from Keck/HIRES QSO absorption spectra

Cited by in corpus (12)

• Varying constants, Gravitation and Cosmology
• Primordial Black Holes
• The generalized second law in universes with quantum corrected entropy relations
• Do Evaporating Black Holes Form Photospheres?
• The minimally extended Varying Speed of Light (meVSL)
• Abolishing the maximum tension principle
• Effect of accretion on primordial black holes in Brans-Dicke theory
• Evolution of primordial black holes in Jordan-Brans-Dicke cosmology
• Dimensionless cosmology
• Comment on "Black hole constraints on varying fundamental constants"
• Reply to Flambaum Commentary [arXiv:0808.2518] on Black Hole Constraints on Varying Fundamental Constants [arXiv:0706.2188, PRL 99, 061301 (2007)]
• Determination of varying speed of light from Black hole