Charge non-conservation, dequantisation, and induced electric dipole moments in varying-alpha theories

TL;DR

This paper explores how theories with a varying fine structure constant, alpha, lead to particles acquiring electric dipole moments and effective charges, potentially causing charge non-conservation at macroscopic scales.

Contribution

It reveals that in varying-alpha theories, particles gain EDMs and effective charges, challenging charge quantization and conservation principles.

Findings

Particles gain intrinsic EDMs in varying-alpha theories.

Effective electric charges become non-quantized.

Charge non-conservation can occur macroscopically.

Abstract

We note that in extensions of the Standard Model that allow for a varying fine structure constant, alpha, all matter species, apart from right-handed neutrinos, will gain an intrinsic electric dipole moment (EDM). In a large subset of varying-alpha theories, all such particle species will also gain an effective electric charge. This charge will in general not be quantised and can result in macroscopic non-conservation of electric charge.