Possible cosmological implications in electrodynamics due to variations of the fine structure constant

TL;DR

This paper explores how cosmological variations in the fine structure constant could alter vacuum electrodynamics, proposing a model with an additional scalar field and a generalized Lorentz force for experimental testing.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework where variations in the fine structure constant lead to a modified electrodynamics with an extra scalar field.

Findings

Electrodynamics in vacuum may include a scalar field due to constant variations.

A generalized Lorentz force is derived for experimental validation.

The model links cosmological observations to fundamental electromagnetic theory.

Abstract

Astronomical observations are suggesting that the fine structure constant varies cosmologically. We present an analysis on the consequences that these variations might induce on the electromagnetic field as a whole. We show that under these circumstances the electrodynamics in vacuum could be described by two fields, the ``standard'' Maxwell's field and a new scalar field. We provide a generalised Lorentz force which can be used to test our results experimentally.