Is there Correlation between Fine Structure and Dark Energy Cosmic Dipoles?

Abstract

We present a detailed analysis (including redshift tomography) of the cosmic dipoles in the Keck+VLT quasar absorber and in the Union2 SnIa samples. We show that the fine structure constant cosmic dipole obtained through the Keck+VLT quasar absorber sample at $4.1\sigma$ level is anomalously aligned with the corresponding dark energy dipole obtained through the Union2 sample at $2\sigma$ level. The angular separation between the two dipole directions is $11.3^{\circ }\pm 11.8^{\circ }$. We use Monte Carlo simulations to find the probability of obtaining the observed dipole magnitudes with the observed alignment, in the context of an isotropic cosmological model with no correlation between dark energy and fine structure constant $\alpha$. We find that this probability is less than one part in $10^6$. We propose a simple physical model (extended topological quintessence) which naturally predicts a spherical inhomogeneous distribution for both dark energy density and fine structure constant values. The model is based on the existence of a recently formed giant global monopole with Hubble scale core which also couples non-minimally to electromagnetism. Aligned dipole anisotropies would naturally emerge for an off-centre observer for both the fine structure constant and for dark energy density. This model smoothly reduces to \lcdm for proper limits of its parameters. Two predictions of this model are (a) a correlation between the existence of strong cosmic electromagnetic fields and the value of $\alpha$ and (b) the existence of a dark flow on Hubble scales due to the repulsive gravity of the global defect core (`Great Repulser') aligned with the dark energy and $\alpha$ dipoles. The direction of the dark flow is predicted to be towards the spatial region of lower accelerating expansion. Existing data about the dark flow are consistent with this prediction.

14 pages 11 figures (two column revtex). Aceepted in Phys. Rev. D (to appear). Significant extensions (mostly on section 4 on the theoretical model), added references, corrected typos. The data, updated mathematica and C program files used for the numerical analysis may be downloaded from http://leandros.physics.uoi.gr/defsdipoles

References in corpus (8)

• Spectra and Light Curves of Six Type Ia Supernovae at 0.511 < z < 1.12 and the Union2 Compilation
• New Limits on Coupling of Fundamental Constants to Gravity Using ${}^{87}$Sr Optical Lattice Clocks
• CMB anisotropies seen by an off-center observer in a spherically symmetric inhomogeneous universe
• Testing the Isotropy of the Universe with Type Ia Supernovae
• The Wall of Fundamental Constants
• 'Tilting' the Universe with the Landscape Multiverse: The 'Dark' Flow
• Varying Alpha: New Constraints from Seasonal Variations
• A reanalysis of quasar absorption spectra results suggesting a spatial gradient in values of the fine-structure constant

Cited by in corpus (74)

• Challenges for $\Lambda$CDM: An update
• The CosmoVerse White Paper: Addressing observational tensions in cosmology with systematics and fundamental physics
• Is the Observable Universe Consistent with the Cosmological Principle?
• Probing cosmic isotropy with a new X-ray galaxy cluster sample through the $L_{\text{X}}-T$ scaling relation
• Probing the isotropy of cosmic acceleration traced by Type Ia supernovae
• Magnetic black universes and wormholes with a phantom scalar
• Exact solution of vacuum field equation in Finsler spacetime
• Hints of a Local Matter Underdensity or Modified Gravity in the Low $z$ Pantheon data
• Constraining the Anisotropic Expansion of Universe
• Observational constraints on the deceleration parameter in a tilted universe
• Probing the anisotropic expansion from supernovae and GRBs in a model-independent way
• Probing Cosmological Isotropy With Type IA Supernovae
• Testing the isotropy of the Universe by using the JLA compilation of type-Ia supernovae
• CMB Maximum Temperature Asymmetry Axis: Alignment with Other Cosmic Asymmetries
• Searching for a preferred direction with Union2.1 data
• Anisotropy of the Universe via the Pantheon supernovae sample revisited
• Null Signal for the Cosmic Anisotropy in the Pantheon Supernovae Data
• Directional Variations of Cosmological Parameters from the Planck CMB Data
• Anisotropy of Cosmic Acceleration
• The significance of anisotropic signals hiding in the type Ia supernovae
• Exploring the evidence for a large local void with supernovae Ia data
• Testing the isotropy of the Universe with type Ia supernovae in a model-independent way
• Directional dependence of CMB parity asymmetry
• Constraining the anisotropy of the Universe via Pantheon supernovae sample
• Anisotropy of the galaxy cluster X-ray luminosity-temperature relation
• Comparison between hemisphere comparison method and dipole-fitting method in tracing the anisotropic expansion of the Universe use the Union2 dataset
• Anisotropic expansion and SNIa: an open issue
• Percent-Level Test of Isotropic Expansion Using Type Ia Supernovae
• Cosmology Intertwined: A Review of the Particle Physics, Astrophysics, and Cosmology Associated with the Cosmological Tensions and Anomalies
• Testing the anisotropy of cosmic acceleration from Pantheon supernovae sample
• A unified description for dipoles of the fine-structure constant and SnIa Hubble diagram in Finslerian universe
• Testing cosmic anisotropy with Pantheon sample and quasars at high redshifts
• Anisotropic universe with anisotropic sources
• Stability of fundamental couplings: a global analysis
• Bianchi Type I model of universe with customized scale factors
• Is there evidence for anomalous dipole anisotropy in the large-scale structure?
• Testing the Cosmic Anisotropy with Supernovae Data: Hemisphere Comparison and Dipole Fitting
• Constraining spatial variations of the fine structure constant using clusters of galaxies and Planck data
• Dynamical features of an anisotropic cosmological model
• Updated constraints on spatial variations of the fine-structure constant
• Cosmological Effects of Scalar-Photon Couplings: Dark Energy and Varying-alpha Models
• A tomographic test of cosmological principle using the JLA compilation of type Ia supernovae
• Cosmic Anisotropy and Fast Radio Bursts
• The cosmological bulk flow in QCDM model: (In)consistency with $\Lambda CDM$
• Probing the isotropy of cosmic acceleration using different supernova samples
• Preferred axis of CMB parity asymmetry in the masked maps
• Consistency of Pantheon+ supernovae with a large-scale isotropic universe
• Searching for a possible dipole anisotropy on acceleration scale with 147 rotationally supported galaxies
• Reappraisal of the limit on the variation in $\alpha$ implied by Oklo
• Anisotropic universe with anisotropic dark energy
• Nonlinear multidimensional gravity and the Australian dipole
• New Constraints on Spatial Variations of the Fine Structure Constant from Clusters of Galaxies
• Searching for Cosmological Preferred Axis using cosmographic approach
• Varying-Alpha and K-Essence
• Testing the anisotropy of the universe using the simulated gravitational wave events from advanced LIGO and Virgo
• Angular distribution of cosmological parameters as a probe of inhomogeneities: a kinematic parametrisation
• Modelling spatial variations of the speed of light
• Probing the anisotropic distribution of baryon matter in the Universe using fast radio bursts
• Does space-time torsion determine the minimum mass of gravitating particles?
• High-z Supernova Type Ia Data: non-Gaussianity and Direction Dependence
• Constraints on Bianchi-I type universe with SH0ES anchored Pantheon+ SNIa data
• Spatial and temporal variations of the fine-structure constant in the Finslerian universe
• Stabilizing the Semilocal String with a Dilatonic Coupling
• Spatial variation of fundamental constants: testing models with thermonuclear supernovae
• Estimations of the cosmological parameters from the observational variation of the fine structure constant
• Spinning Toroidal Brane Cosmology; A Classical and Quantum Survey
• Solar system peculiar motion from the Hubble diagram of quasars and testing the Cosmological Principle
• New Constraints on Anisotropic Expansion from Supernovae Type Ia
• The prospects of gravitational waves on constraining the anisotropy of the Universe
• Dilatonic Topological Defects in 3+1 Dimensions and their Embeddings
• Measuring cosmic dipole with the GRB luminosity-time relation
• Dark Energy Induced Anisotropy in Cosmic Expansion
• Testing cosmic homogeneity and isotropy using galaxy correlations
• Our Peculiar Motion Inferred from Number Counts of Mid Infra Red AGNs and the Discordance Seen with the Cosmological Principle