Variations in the fine-structure constant constraining gravity theories. (21st September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bezerra, V. B.; Cunha, M. S.; Muniz, C. R.; Tahim, M. O.; Vieira, H. S.
• Is Part Of: Europhysics letters. Volume 115:Number 4(2016:Aug.)
• Publication Date: 2016-09-21
• Subjects: 04.40.-b -- 04.50.Kd -- 04.62.+v; Physics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/115/40004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0295-5075

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate how the fine-structure constant, α, locally varies in the presence of a static and spherically symmetric gravitational source. The procedure consists in calculating the solution and the energy eigenvalues of a massive scalar field around that source, considering the weak-field regime. From this result, we obtain expressions for a spatially variable fine-structure constant by considering suitable modifications in the involved parameters admitting some scenarios of semi-classical and quantum gravities. Constraints on free parameters of the approached theories are calculated from astrophysical observations of the emission spectra of a white dwarf. Such constraints are finally compared with those obtained in the literature.