Environmental Dependence of Masses and Coupling Constants

TL;DR

This paper introduces scalar field models where particle masses and coupling constants vary with environmental matter density, predicting measurable differences between terrestrial and astrophysical measurements without requiring cosmological evolution.

Contribution

It proposes a new class of scalar field models linking matter density to variations in fundamental constants, highlighting potential experimental tests.

Findings

Models predict measurable coupling deviations in different environments.

No need for coupling evolution with redshift in recent cosmology.

Encourages laboratory and astrophysical tests of fundamental constant variations.

Abstract

We construct a class of scalar field models coupled to matter that lead to the dependence of masses and coupling constants on the ambient matter density. Such models predict a deviation of couplings measured on the Earth from values determined in low-density astrophysical environments, but do not necessarily require the evolution of coupling constants with the redshift in the recent cosmological past. Additional laboratory and astrophysical tests of \Delta \alpha and \Delta(m_p/m_e) as functions of the ambient matter density are warranted.