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Related Experiment Videos

Changing alpha with time: implications for fifth-force-type experiments and quintessence.

Gia Dvali1, Matias Zaldarriaga

  • 1Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.

Physical Review Letters
|February 28, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Recent observations suggest the fine structure constant may vary over time, implying an ultralight scalar particle. This particle mediates a new, potentially measurable long-range force, possibly linked to dark energy.

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Area of Science:

  • Cosmology and Particle Physics
  • Fundamental Constants
  • Beyond Standard Model Physics

Background:

  • Recent observations hint at possible time variations in the fine structure constant (α).
  • Such variations, if confirmed, have profound implications for fundamental physics.
  • The fine structure constant governs the strength of electromagnetic interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the implications of a time-varying fine structure constant.
  • To identify potential new particles and forces arising from such variations.
  • To assess the experimental testability of these implications.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis of particle physics models.
  • Investigating the coupling of scalar fields to nucleons.

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  • Evaluating the constraints from existing experimental bounds.

    • Main Results:

    • A time variation in α implies the existence of an ultralight scalar particle.
    • This particle mediates a long-range, isotope-dependent force.
    • The predicted force strength is close to current experimental limits.

    Conclusions:

    • The existence of an ultralight scalar particle is a direct consequence of a time-varying fine structure constant.
    • This particle mediates a novel force detectable via precision equivalence principle tests.
    • The scalar field could also function as a quintessence field, contributing to cosmic acceleration.