Black Hole Constraints on Varying Fundamental Constants

TL;DR

This paper uses thermodynamics principles to set upper limits on how much fundamental constants, like the fine structure constant, can vary over time, aligning with observational data from distant quasars.

Contribution

It introduces a thermodynamics-based method to constrain the variation of fundamental constants, linking black hole physics with cosmological observations.

Findings

Maximum variation in alpha is ~2 x 10^-23 per second.

The derived limit matches quasar absorption line measurements.

Suggests a coupling mechanism between electrons and cosmic photons.

Abstract

Here we apply the Generalized Second Law of Thermodynamics and derive upper limits on the variation in the fundamental constants. The maximum variation in the electronic charge permitted for black holes accreting and emitting in the present cosmic microwave background corresponds to a variation in the fine structure constant of ((Delta alpha) / alpha) ~ 2 x 10^-23 per second. This value matches the variation measured by Webb et al. using absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars and suggests the variation mechanism may be a coupling between the electron and the cosmic photon background.