Observational constraints on varying fundamental constants in a minimal CPC model

TL;DR

This paper introduces a minimal model within the CPC framework allowing simultaneous variation of gravitational and electromagnetic couplings, constrained by galaxy cluster data, showing compatibility with constant couplings.

Contribution

It proposes a new minimal CPC model with entangled variations of G and c, constrained by observational data, expanding the understanding of varying fundamental constants.

Findings

G(z) and c(z) are compatible with constant couplings

The model fits observational data well

Variations are consistent with no change in fundamental constants

Abstract

A minimal model based on the Co-varying Physical Couplings (CPC) framework for gravity is proposed. The CPC framework is based on the assumptions of a metric-compatible four-dimensional Riemannian manifold where a covariantly conserved stress-energy tensor acts as source of the field equations which are formally the same as Einstein field equations, but where the couplings $\{ G, c,\Lambda \}$ are allowed to vary simultaneously. The minimal CPC model takes $\Lambda$ as a genuine constant while $c$ and $G$ vary in an entangled way that is consistent with Bianchi identity and the aforementioned assumptions. The model is constrained using the most recent galaxy cluster gas mass fraction observational data. Our result indicates that the functions $c(z)$ and $G\left(z\right)=G_{0}\left(c/c_{0}\right)^{4}$ are compatible with constant couplings for the three different parameterizations of $c=c(z)$ adopted here.