Variation of the Strong and Electromagnetic Coupling Constants over Cosmological Times

Abstract

THERE has been a long history of speculation on the possibility that the fundamental constants of physics may vary slowly over long periods of time^1,2. This speculation was most recently brought forward as a possible explanation of the cosmological redshift². Numerous authors pointed out that there are many reasons for ruling out any large scale variations of the fine structure constant (electrical charge) with time³. In this article, we show that on the basis of the liquid drop model of the nucleus and the observed half lives and abundances of the transuranium elements, approximate limits can be put on the rate of change of the ratio g²/e², where e is the electric charge of the electron and g is the strong coupling constant. If we assume that the strong interactions do not vary as a function of time, then we find limits of the time rate change of e of about the same stringency as those in refs. 3, 4 and 5. If, however, we assume the conclusions^3–5 that e does not change as a function of time, then we can show that the quantity must be less than ∼2×10⁻¹¹ yr⁻¹.