Variations of Alpha in Space and Time

Abstract

We study inhomogeneous cosmological variations in the fine structure 'constant', $\alpha ,$ in Friedmann universes. Inhomogeneous motions of the scalar field driving changes in $\alpha$ display spatial oscillations that decrease in amplitude with increasing time. The inhomogeneous evolution quickly approaches that found for exact Friedmann universes. We prove a theorem to show that oscillations of $\alpha$ in time (or redshift) cannot occur in Friedmann universes in the BSBM theories considered here.

7 pages, no figures. Final version: improved discussion and addition of new theorem excluding time oscillations