https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13468-0
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Non-parametric reconstruction of the fine structure constant with galaxy clusters
1
Departamento de Física Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59300-000, Natal, RN, Brazil
2
Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
3
Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
4
Divisão de Astrofísica, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Avenida dos Astronautas 1758, 12227-010, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
Received:
30
August
2024
Accepted:
6
October
2024
Published online:
28
October
2024
Testing possible variations in fundamental constants of nature is a crucial endeavor in observational cosmology. This paper investigates potential cosmological variations in the fine structure constant () through a non-parametric approach, using galaxy cluster observations as the primary cosmological probe. We employ two methodologies based on galaxy cluster gas mass fraction measurements derived from X-ray and Sunyaev–Zeldovich observations, along with luminosity distances from type Ia supernovae. We also explore how different values of the Hubble constant () impact the variation of across cosmic history. When using the Planck satellite’s observations, a constant is ruled out at approximately the 3 confidence level for . Conversely, employing local estimates of restores agreement with a constant .
© The Author(s) 2024
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