Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 061301 (2007) [4 pages]Black Hole Constraints on Varying Fundamental ConstantsReceived 20 October 2006; published 10 August 2007 We apply the generalized second law of thermodynamics and derive upper limits on the variation in the fundamental constants. The maximum variation in the electronic charge permitted for black holes accreting and emitting in the present cosmic microwave background corresponds to a variation in the fine-structure constant of Δα/α≈2×10-23 per second. This value matches the variation measured by Webb et al. [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 82 884 (1999); Phys. Rev. Lett. 87 091301 (2001)] using absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars and suggests the variation mechanism may be a coupling between the electron and the cosmic photon background. © 2007 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.061301
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.061301
PACS:
04.70.Dy, 06.20.Jr, 97.60.Lf, 98.80.Es
See AlsoComment: V. V. Flambaum, Comment on “Black Hole Constraints on Varying Fundamental Constants”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 069001 (2009). Reply: Jane H. MacGibbon, MacGibbon Replies:, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 069002 (2009). |
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