New constraints on time-dependent variations of fundamental constants using Planck data

Abstract

Observations of the CMB today allow us to answer detailed questions about the properties of our Universe, targeting both standard and non-standard physics. In this paper, we study the effects of varying fundamental constants (i.e., the fine-structure constant, ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}$, and electron rest mass, $m_{\mathrm{e}}$) around last scattering using the recombination codes CosmoRec and Recfast++. We approach the problem in a pedagogical manner, illustrating the importance of various effects on the free electron fraction, Thomson visibility function and CMB power spectra, highlighting various degeneracies. We demonstrate that the simpler Recfast++ treatment (based on a three-level atom approach) can be used to accurately represent the full computation of CosmoRec. We also include explicit time-dependent variations using a phenomenological power-law description. We reproduce previous Planck 2013 results in our analysis. Assuming constant variations relative to the standard values, we find the improved constraints ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}/{\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM},0}=0.9993\pm 0.0025$ (CMB only) and $m_{\mathrm{e}}/m_{\mathrm{e},0}=1.0039\pm 0.0074$ (including BAO) using Planck 2015 data. For a redshift-dependent variation, ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}(z)={\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}(z_0)[(1+z)/1100{]}^p$ with ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}(z_0)\equiv {\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM},0}$ at $z_0=1100$, we obtain $p=0.0008\pm 0.0025$. Allowing simultaneous variations of ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}(z_0)$ and $p$ yields ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}(z_0)/{\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM},0}=0.9998\pm 0.0036$ and $p=0.0006\pm 0.0036$. We also discuss combined limits on ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{EM}}$ and $m_{\mathrm{e}}$. Our analysis shows that existing data is not only sensitive to the value of the fundamental constants around recombination but also its first time derivative. This suggests that a wider class of varying fundamental constant models can be probed using the CMB.

12 pages, 14 figures, 2 tables, updated to match the published version to MNRAS, fixed references

References in corpus (15)

• CMB-S4 Science Book, First Edition
• Exploring Cosmic Origins with CORE: Cosmological Parameters
• Lines in the Cosmic Microwave Background Spectrum from the Epoch of Cosmological Hydrogen Recombination
• Lines in the cosmic microwave background spectrum from the epoch of cosmological helium recombination
• Primordial helium recombination I: feedback, line transfer, and continuum opacity
• High-precision limit on variation in the fine-structure constant from a single quasar absorption system
• Free-bound emission from cosmological hydrogen recombination
• Two-photon transitions in hydrogen and cosmological recombination
• Two-photon transitions in primordial hydrogen recombination
• Rapid HeII->HeI recombination and radiation concerned with this process
• Cosmological hydrogen recombination: Lyn line feedback and continuum escape
• Prospects for Constraining Neutrino Mass Using Planck and Lyman-Alpha Forest Data
• Varying couplings in the early universe: correlated variations of $\alpha$ and $G$
• Time-Dependent Corrections to the Ly-alpha Escape Probability During Cosmological Hydrogen Recombination
• Dynamics of Primordial Hydrogen Recombination with Allowance for a Recoil for Scattering in the Ly-alpha Line

Cited by in corpus (60)

• In the Realm of the Hubble tension $-$ a Review of Solutions
• Challenges for $\Lambda$CDM: An update
• The Hubble Hunter's Guide
• Cosmology Intertwined II: The Hubble Constant Tension
• The $H_0$ Olympics: A fair ranking of proposed models
• The CosmoVerse White Paper: Addressing observational tensions in cosmology with systematics and fundamental physics
• Updated fundamental constant constraints from Planck 2018 data and possible relations to the Hubble tension
• The fate of large-scale structure in modified gravity after GW170817 and GRB170817A
• Early recombination as a solution to the $H_0$ tension
• Distorted Neutrino Oscillations From Ultralight Scalar Dark Matter
• SPT-3G D1: CMB temperature and polarization power spectra and cosmology from 2019 and 2020 observations of the SPT-3G Main field
• Combining pre- and post-recombination new physics to address cosmological tensions: case study with varying electron mass and sign-switching cosmological constant
• What it takes to solve the Hubble tension through modifications of cosmological recombination
• The minimally extended Varying Speed of Light (meVSL)
• Cosmology with varying fundamental constants from hyperlight, coupled scalars
• Axi-Higgs Cosmology
• Cosmology Intertwined: A Review of the Particle Physics, Astrophysics, and Cosmology Associated with the Cosmological Tensions and Anomalies
• Varying fundamental constants principal component analysis: additional hints about the Hubble tension
• Using the cosmological recombination radiation to probe early dark energy and fundamental constant variations
• Molecular Chemistry for Dark Matter
• Can phantom transition at $z\sim 1$ restore the Cosmic concordance?
• Galaxy clusters and a possible variation of the fine structure constant
• Molecular Chemistry for Dark Matter II: Recombination, Molecule Formation, and Halo Mass Function in Atomic Dark Matter
• Running vacuum in Brans-Dicke theory: a possible cure for the ${\sigma }_8$ and $H_0$ tensions
• Sensitivity forecasts for the cosmological recombination radiation in the presence of foregrounds
• Probing spatial variation of the fine-structure constant using the CMB
• A critical discussion on the $H_0$ tension
• Variation of $\alpha$ from a Dark Matter Force
• Improved model-independent constraints on the recombination era and development of a direct projection method
• Electron mass variation from dark sector interactions and compatibility with cosmological observations
• Cosmological bound on neutrino masses in the light of $H_0$ tension
• Variations in fundamental constants at the cosmic dawn
• Probing variation of the fine-structure constant in runaway dilaton models using Strong Gravitational Lensing and Type Ia Supernovae
• Varying fine-structure constant cosmography
• Environment Dependent Electron Mass and the H${}_0$-Tension
• Thomson scattering: One rate to rule them all
• Constraints on the electron-to-proton mass ratio variation at the epoch of reionization
• EDGES signal in presence of magnetic fields
• Probing the time variation of fine structure constant using galaxy clusters and quintessence model
• A visual tool for assessing tension-resolving models in the $H_0$-${\sigma }_8$ plane
• The Geometrical Origin of Dark Energy
• Fundamental Physics with ESPRESSO, Constraining a simple parametrisation for varying $\alpha$
• Constraints on extended Bekenstein models from cosmological, astrophysical, and local data
• Runaway dilaton models: improved constraints from the full cosmological evolution
• Improving Constraints on Models Addressing the Hubble Tension with CMB Delensing
• Revisiting CPL with sign-switching density: To cross or not to cross the NECB
• Fundamental physics with ESPRESSO: Constraints on Bekenstein and dark energy models from astrophysical and local probes
• Mirror Dark Sector Solution of the Hubble Tension with Time-varying Fine-structure Constant
• Axi-Higgs cosmology: Cosmic Microwave Background and cosmological tensions
• Constraining fundamental parameters in modified gravity using Gaia-DR2 massive white dwarf observation
• Incompatibility of fine-structure constant variations at recombination with local observations
• Coupling quintessence kinetics to electromagnetism
• Non-parametric reconstruction of the fine structure constant with galaxy clusters
• Variation of fundamental constants and white dwarfs
• Redshift-space distortion constraints on the neutrino mass and models to alleviate the Hubble tension
• Implications of Dynamical Dark Energy in the expansion of the Universe and the Structure Formation
• Constraints on the varying electron mass and early dark energy in light of ACT DR6 and DESI DR2 and the implications for inflation
• Effect of temperature on measurement of fundamental constants using white dwarfs in Gaia-EDR3 survey
• Refining fundamental constants with white dwarfs: machine learning informed constraints on fine-structure constant and proton-to-electron mass ratio
• Redshift Dependence of CMB Temperature in BSBM $\alpha$-Varying Theories