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The breaking of the Equivalence Principle in theories with varying α

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2010

Lucila Kraiselburd
Affiliation:
Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina email: vucetich@fcaglp.fcaglp.unlp.edu.ar CONICET, Argentina email: lulikrai@gmail.com
Héctor Vucetich
Affiliation:
Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina email: vucetich@fcaglp.fcaglp.unlp.edu.ar
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Abstract

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The Standard Model and General Relativity provide a good description of phenomena at low energy. These theories, which agree very well with the experiment, contain a set of parameters called “fundamental constants”, that are assumed invariant under changes in location and reference system. However, their possible variation has been studied since Dirac made the large numbers hypothesis (LNH). Moreover, unified field theory and extra dimensions theories such as Kaluza-Klein or Superstring theories, state not only the variation of these constants, but also the simultaneity of the variations.

The Eötvös effect is one of the most sensitive indicators of changes in fundamental constants. Bekenstein (2002) showed that in his theory, using a classical static particle model of matter, there is no Eötvös effect and therefore met the Universality of Free Fall and the Principle of Equivalence.

We present different results than those obtained by Bekenstein, Kraiselburd, Vucetich (2009). Modifying his theory, taking more realistic models of matter and using the model THεμ techniques (Ligtman-Lee (1975) and Haugan (1979), not used before to analyze this model), very small but measurable effects have been found.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010

References

Kraiselburd, L. & Vucetich, H.. ”Violation of the Weak Equivalence Principle in Bekenstein's theory”. arXiv:0902.4146, 2009.Google Scholar
Jacob, D. Bekenstein.“Fine-structure constant variability, equivalence principle and cosmology”. Phys. Rev., D66:123514, 2002.Google Scholar
Haugan, M. P.. “Energy conservation and the principle of equivalence”. Ann. Phys., 118: 156, 1979.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lightman, A. P. & Lee, D. L.. “Restricted proof that the Weak Equivalence Principle implies the Einstein Equivalence Principle”. Phys. Rev. D, 8: 364, 1973.CrossRefGoogle Scholar