Varying-Alpha and K-Essence

Abstract

We introduce a model which allows the fine structure constant (alpha) to vary throughout space and time due to a coupling to a scalar field with a non-canonical kinetic structure. This provided a new extension of the Bekenstein-Sandvik-Barrow-Magueijo model of alpha variations. The background cosmology is studied in detail using dynamical systems techniques for a scalar field of ghost condensate type. We show generically that if the kinetic terms are chosen to allow an accelerated late-time attractor for the expansion scale factor then alpha will not asymptote to a constant at late times.

14 pages, 3 figures. v2: typos corrected, references added and some additional comments. Matches published version

References in corpus (51)

• Dynamics of dark energy
• A Dynamical Solution to the Problem of a Small Cosmological Constant and Late-time Cosmic Acceleration
• k-Inflation
• Essentials of k-essence
• Exponential potentials and cosmological scaling solutions
• Kinetically Driven Quintessence
• The fundamental constants and their variation: observational status and theoretical motivations
• Perturbations in k-inflation
• Further Evidence for Cosmological Evolution of the Fine Structure Constant
• Test of the Equivalence Principle Using a Rotating Torsion Balance
• A Search for Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant
• Varying constants, Gravitation and Cosmology
• Indications of a spatial variation of the fine structure constant
• k-Essence, superluminal propagation, causality and emergent geometry
• Dilatonic ghost condensate as dark energy
• Possible evidence for a variable fine structure constant from QSO absorption lines: motivations, analysis and results
• Limits on the time variation of the electromagnetic fine-structure constant in the low energy limit from absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars
• A Simple Varying-alpha Cosmology
• Space-Time Variation of Physical Constants and Relativistic Corrections in Atoms
• Spatial variation in the fine-structure constant -- new results from VLT/UVES
• Coupled dark energy: Towards a general description of the dynamics
• Probing the cosmological variation of the fine-structure constant: Results based on VLT-UVES sample
• Dynamics of $k$-essence
• Haloes of k-Essence
• Homogeneous cosmologies with cosmological constant
• The Behaviour of Varying-Alpha Cosmologies
• A Matter Bounce By Means of Ghost Condensation
• Is there Correlation between Fine Structure and Dark Energy Cosmic Dipoles?
• No-go theorem for k-essence dark energy
• Causality and the speed of sound
• Revision of VLT/UVES constraints on a varying fine-structure constant
• Comment on "Limits on the Time Variation of the Electromagnetic Fine-Structure Constant in the Low Energy Limit from Absorption Lines in the Spectra of Distant Quasars"
• Fine-structure constant variability, equivalence principle and cosmology
• The Constancy of the Constants of Nature: Updates
• Is it e or is it c? Experimental Tests of Varying Alpha
• Screening fifth forces in k-essence and DBI models
• Cosmological phase space analysis of the F (X) - V (phi) scalar field and bouncing solutions
• A Generalized Theory of Varying Alpha
• CMB Maximum Temperature Asymmetry Axis: Alignment with Other Cosmic Asymmetries
• Variations of Alpha in Space and Time
• General Dynamics of Varying-Alpha Universes
• Gauge-Invariant Perturbations of Varying-Alpha Cosmologies
• Cosmological Constraints on a Dynamical Electron Mass
• Constraints on Dirac-Born-Infeld type dark energy models from varying alpha
• Varying Alpha and the Electroweak Model
• Varying Couplings in Electroweak Theory
• Varying-Alpha Cosmologies with Potentials
• The Local Effects of Cosmological Variations in Physical 'Constants' and Scalar Fields I. Spherically Symmetric Spacetimes
• Qualitative Analysis of Universes with Varying Alpha
• Varying electric charge in multiscale spacetimes
• Violation of the Weak Equivalence Principle in Bekenstein's theory

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Dynamical systems applied to cosmology: dark energy and modified gravity
• Cosmology Intertwined: A Review of the Particle Physics, Astrophysics, and Cosmology Associated with the Cosmological Tensions and Anomalies
• Probing spatial variation of the fine-structure constant using the CMB
• A Cyclic Universe Approach to Fine Tuning
• Thawing k-essence dark energy in the PAge space
• Phase structure of the $O(2)$ ghost model with higher-order gradient term
• Impact of inhomogeneities on slowly rolling Quintessence: implications for the local variations of the fine-structure constant