Gravity, time and varying constants

TL;DR

This paper explores theories where fundamental constants vary over time, demonstrating how matter coupling constants can evolve dynamically within scalar field cosmology using spatial volume as a global clock.

Contribution

It shows that dynamical matter coupling constants naturally emerge in non-perturbative matter-gravity theories with a chosen global time, exemplified through scalar field cosmology.

Findings

Scalar mass and self-interaction couplings vary with time.

Varying constants can be derived from non-perturbative gravity theories.

Using spatial volume as a global clock facilitates the analysis.

Abstract

There are theories which implement the idea that the constants of nature may be "time dependent." These introduce new fields representing "evolving constants," in addition to physical fields. We argue that dynamical matter coupling constants can arise naturally in non-perturbative matter-gravity theories, after a choice of global time is made. We illustrate the idea in scalar field cosmology with spatial volume as a global clock, and compute the time dependence of the scalar mass and self-interaction coupling constants.