Fundamental constants and tests of general relativity - Theoretical and cosmological considerations

TL;DR

This paper reviews how tests of fundamental constants relate to general relativity, discusses constraints, and explores cosmological implications including the Universe's acceleration and methods to test gravity on large scales.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive summary of constraints on constant variability, links to extended theories of gravity, and discusses cosmological tests of general relativity and the Copernican principle.

Findings

Constraints on constant variability from experiments

Connections between varying constants and extended gravity theories

Methods to test general relativity on cosmological scales

Abstract

The tests of the constancy of the fundamental constants are tests of the local position invariance and thus of the equivalence principle. We summarize the various constraints that have been obtained and then describe the connection between varying constants and extensions of general relativity. To finish, we discuss the link with cosmology, and more particularly with the acceleration of the Universe. We take the opportunity to summarize various possibilities to test general relativity (but also the Copernican principle) on cosmological scales.