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Variations of Alpha in Space and Time

J. D. Barrow·J. Magueijo·H. B. Sandvik
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Abstract

We study inhomogeneous cosmological variations in the fine structure 'constant', $α,$ in Friedmann universes. Inhomogeneous motions of the scalar field driving changes in $α$ 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 $α$ in time (or redshift) cannot occur in Friedmann universes in the BSBM theories considered here.

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J. D. Barrow, J. Magueijo, H. B. Sandvik. 2002-06-10. Variations of Alpha in Space and Time. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.66.043515

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