PIRSA:11100064

Space and Time Variation of Cosmological Parameters and Physical Constants

Scott, D. (2011). Space and Time Variation of Cosmological Parameters and Physical Constants. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/11100064

Scott, Douglas. Space and Time Variation of Cosmological Parameters and Physical Constants. Perimeter Institute, Oct. 18, 2011, https://pirsa.org/11100064 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:11100064,
            doi = {10.48660/11100064},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/11100064},
            author = {Scott, Douglas},
            keywords = {Cosmology},
            language = {en},
            title = {Space and Time Variation of Cosmological Parameters and Physical Constants},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2011},
            month = {oct},
            note = {PIRSA:11100064 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Douglas Scott

University of British Columbia

Talk number
PIRSA:11100064
Collection
Talk Type
Subject
Abstract
The time variation of physical constants has been much discussed in the literature, motivated by claims of fine structure constant variations together with several theoretical ideas. Although it is well understood (by most, but not all!) cosmologists that one must consider only dimensionless constants, most discussions of the strength of gravity involve "G", which is of course dimensional. I discuss some applications of variations of "G" on cosmological observables, stressing the need to stay dimensionless. "Constants" might also vary in space. An idea which is perhaps less crazy is that cosmological parameters might vary across the observable Universe. I show how this leads to dipole modulation, which corresponds to a correlation between neighbouring multipoles in maps of the cosmic microwave sky. Searches for such signals could lead to constraints on the variation of the cosmological model on the largest accessible scales.