Eur. Phys. J. C 24, 639-642 (2002)
DOI: 10.1007/s10052-002-0976-0
The cosmological evolution of the nucleon mass and the electroweak coupling constants
X. Calmet1 and H. Fritzsch1, 21 Ludwig-Maximilians, Sektion Physik, Theresienstraße 37, 80333 München, Germany
2 Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94309, USA
(Received: 18 April 2002 / Published online: 14 June 2002 )
Abstract
Starting from astrophysical indications that the fine structure
constant might undergo a small cosmological time shift, we discuss
the implications of such an effect from the point of view of
particle physics. Grand unification implies small time shifts for
the nucleon mass, the magnetic moment of the nucleon and the weak
coupling constant as well. The relative change of the nucleon mass
is about 40 times larger than the relative change of
.
Laboratory measurements using very advanced methods in quantum
optics might soon reveal small time shifts of the nucleon mass, the
magnetic moment of the nucleon and the fine structure constant.
© Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002
