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Do black holes constrain varying constants?

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  • Steven Carlip

    (University of California)

  • Sachindeo Vaidya

    (University of California)

Abstract

Tentative observations of shifted spectral lines in distant quasars1,2 have rekindled interest in Dirac's old idea3,4 that the fundamental 'constants' of physics may vary over time. Davies et al. have argued that black-hole thermodynamics favours theories in which the speed of light, c, decreases, and does not favour those in which the fundamental electronic charge, e, increases5. Here we show, however, that when the entire thermal environment of a black hole is considered, no such conclusion can be drawn. Although black-hole features such as mass quantization may still constrain models with varying 'constants'6, thermodynamics probably cannot.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Carlip & Sachindeo Vaidya, 2003. "Do black holes constrain varying constants?," Nature, Nature, vol. 421(6922), pages 498-498, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:421:y:2003:i:6922:d:10.1038_421498a
    DOI: 10.1038/421498a
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