Fine-structure constant constraints on Bekenstein-type models

Abstract

Astrophysical tests of the stability of dimensionless fundamental couplings, such as the fine-structure constant $\alpha$, are an area of much increased recent activity, following some indications of possible spacetime variations at the few parts per million level. Here we obtain updated constraints on the Bekenstein-Sandvik-Barrow-Magueijo model, which is arguably the simplest model allowing for $\alpha$ variations. Recent accurate spectroscopic measurements allow us to improve previous constraints by about an order of magnitude. We briefly comment on the dependence of the results on the data sample, as well as on the improvements expected from future facilities.

5 pages, 2 figures

References in corpus (22)

• Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant
• Measurements of Omega and Lambda from 42 High-Redshift Supernovae
• Observation of a new particle in the search for the Standard Model Higgs boson with the ATLAS detector at the LHC
• Observation of a new boson at a mass of 125 GeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC
• BICEP2 I: Detection Of B-mode Polarization at Degree Angular Scales
• The String Dilaton and a Least Coupling Principle
• Varying constants, Gravitation and Cosmology
• Indications of a spatial variation of the fine structure constant
• Runaway dilaton and equivalence principle violations
• A Simple Varying-alpha Cosmology
• Spatial variation in the fine-structure constant -- new results from VLT/UVES
• The Behaviour of Varying-Alpha Cosmologies
• The UVES Large Program for Testing Fundamental Physics: I Bounds on a change in alpha towards quasar HE 2217-2818
• The UVES Large Program for Testing Fundamental Physics II: Constraints on a Change in μ Towards Quasar HE 0027-1836
• On the variation of the fine-structure constant: Very high resolution spectrum of QSO HE 0515-4414
• First measurement of Mg isotope abundances at high redshifts and accurate estimate of Delta alpha/alpha
• Bounds on the fine structure constant variability from FeII absorption lines in QSO spectra
• A Generalized Theory of Varying Alpha
• General Dynamics of Varying-Alpha Universes
• Time variation of proton-electron mass ratio and fine structure constant with runaway dilaton
• Fundamental constants and high resolution spectroscopy
• Spatial variations of the fine-structure constant in symmetron models

Cited by in corpus (11)

• The status of varying constants: a review of the physics, searches and implications
• Fundamental cosmology in the E-ELT era: The status and future role of tests of fundamental coupling stability
• Constraint on the time variation of the fine-structure constant with the SDSS-III/BOSS DR12 quasar sample
• Dark energy and Equivalence Principle constraints from astrophysical tests of the stability of the fine-structure constant
• Current and future constraints on extended Bekenstein-type models for a varying fine-structure constant
• Reappraisal of the limit on the variation in $\alpha$ implied by Oklo
• Current and future constraints on Bekenstein-type models for varying couplings
• Constraints on extended Bekenstein models from cosmological, astrophysical, and local data
• Coupling quintessence kinetics to electromagnetism
• Impact of inhomogeneities on slowly rolling Quintessence: implications for the local variations of the fine-structure constant
• Accelerated expansion as manifestation of gravity: when Dark Energy belongs to the left