Planck intermediate results XXIV. Constraints on variations in fundamental constants

P. A. R. Ade; N. Aghanim; M. Arnaud; M. Ashdown; J. Aumont; C. Baccigalupi; A. J. Banday; R. B. Barreiro; E. Battaner; K. Benabed; A. Benoit-Levy; J. -P. Bernard; M. Bersanelli; P. Bielewicz; J. R. Bond; J. Borrill; F. R. Bouchet; C. Burigana; R. C. Butler; E. Calabrese; A. Chamballu; H. C. Chiang; P. R. Christensen; D. L. Clements; L. P. L. Colombo; F. Couchot; A. Curto; F. Cuttaia; L. Danese; R. D. Davies; R. J. Davis; P. de Bernardis; A. de Rosa; G. de Zotti; J. Delabrouille; J. M. Diego; H. Dole; O. Dore; X. Dupac; T. A. Ensslin; H. K. Eriksen; O. Fabre; F. Finelli; O. Forni; M. Frailis; E. Franceschi; S. Galeotta; S. Galli; K. Ganga; M. Giard; J. Gonzalez-Nuevo; K. M. Gorski; A. Gregorio; A. Gruppuso; F. K. Hansen; D. Hanson; D. L. Harrison; S. Henrot-Versille; C. Hernandez-Monteagudo; D. Herranz; S. R. Hildebrandt; E. Hivon; M. Hobson; W. A. Holmes; Allan Hornstrup; W. Hovest; K. M. Huffenberger; A. H. Jaffe; W. C. Jones; E. Keihaenen; R. Keskitalo; R. Kneissl; J. Knoche; M. Kunz; H. Kurki-Suonio; J. -M. Lamarre; A. Lasenby; C. R. Lawrence; R. Leonardi; J. Lesgourgues; M. Liguori; P. B. Lilje; Michael Linden-Vørnle; M. Lopez-Caniego; P. M. Lubin; J. F. Macias-Perez; N. Mandolesi; M. Maris; P. G. Martin; E. Martinez-Gonzalez; S. Masi; S. Matarrese; P. Mazzotta; P. R. Meinhold; A. Melchiorri; L. Mendes; E. Menegoni; A. Mennella; M. Migliaccio; M. -A. Miville-Deschenes; A. Moneti; L. Montier; G. Morgante; A. Moss; D. Munshi; J. A. Murphy; P. Naselsky; F. Nati; P. Natoli; Hans Ulrik Nørgaard-Nielsen; F. Noviello; D. Novikov; I. Novikov; Carol Anne Oxborrow; L. Pagano; Fernand Pajot; D. Paoletti; F. Pasian; G. Patanchon; O. Perdereau; L. Perotto; F. Perrotta; F. Piacentini; M. Piat; E. Pierpaoli; D. Pietrobon; S. Plaszczynski; E. Pointecouteau; G. Polenta; N. Ponthieu; L. Popa; G. W. Pratt; S. Prunet; J. P. Rachen; R. Rebolo; M. Reinecke; M. Remazeilles; C. Renault; S. Ricciardi; I. Ristorcelli; G. Rocha; G. Roudier; B. Rusholme; M. Sandri; G. Savini; D. Scott; L. D. Spencer; V. Stolyarov; R. Sudiwala; D. Sutton; A. -S. Suur-Uski; J. -F. Sygnet; J. A. Tauber; D. Tavagnacco; L. Terenzi; L. Toffolatti; M. Tomasi; M. Tristram; M. Tucci; J. -P. Uzan; L. Valenziano; J. Valiviita; B. Van Tent; P. Vielva; F. Villa; L. A. Wade; D. Yvon; A. Zacchei; A. Zonca

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201424496

Planck intermediate results XXIV. Constraints on variations in fundamental constants

P. A. R. Ade, N. Aghanim, M. Arnaud, M. Ashdown, J. Aumont, C. Baccigalupi, A. J. Banday, R. B. Barreiro, E. Battaner, K. Benabed, A. Benoit-Levy, J. -P. Bernard, M. Bersanelli, P. Bielewicz, J. R. Bond, J. Borrill, F. R. Bouchet, C. Burigana, R. C. Butler, E. CalabreseA. Chamballu, H. C. Chiang, P. R. Christensen, D. L. Clements, L. P. L. Colombo, F. Couchot, A. Curto, F. Cuttaia, L. Danese, R. D. Davies, R. J. Davis, P. de Bernardis, A. de Rosa, G. de Zotti, J. Delabrouille, J. M. Diego, H. Dole, O. Dore, X. Dupac, T. A. Ensslin, H. K. Eriksen, O. Fabre, F. Finelli, O. Forni, M. Frailis, E. Franceschi, S. Galeotta, S. Galli, K. Ganga, M. Giard, J. Gonzalez-Nuevo, K. M. Gorski, A. Gregorio, A. Gruppuso, F. K. Hansen, D. Hanson, D. L. Harrison, S. Henrot-Versille, C. Hernandez-Monteagudo, D. Herranz, S. R. Hildebrandt, E. Hivon, M. Hobson, W. A. Holmes, Allan Hornstrup, W. Hovest, K. M. Huffenberger, A. H. Jaffe, W. C. Jones, E. Keihaenen, R. Keskitalo, R. Kneissl, J. Knoche, M. Kunz, H. Kurki-Suonio, J. -M. Lamarre, A. Lasenby, C. R. Lawrence, R. Leonardi, J. Lesgourgues, M. Liguori, P. B. Lilje, Michael Linden-Vørnle, M. Lopez-Caniego, P. M. Lubin, J. F. Macias-Perez, N. Mandolesi, M. Maris, P. G. Martin, E. Martinez-Gonzalez, S. Masi, S. Matarrese, P. Mazzotta, P. R. Meinhold, A. Melchiorri, L. Mendes, E. Menegoni, A. Mennella, M. Migliaccio, M. -A. Miville-Deschenes, A. Moneti, L. Montier, G. Morgante, A. Moss, D. Munshi, J. A. Murphy, P. Naselsky, F. Nati, P. Natoli, Hans Ulrik Nørgaard-Nielsen, F. Noviello, D. Novikov, I. Novikov, Carol Anne Oxborrow, L. Pagano, Fernand Pajot, D. Paoletti, F. Pasian, G. Patanchon, O. Perdereau, L. Perotto, F. Perrotta, F. Piacentini, M. Piat, E. Pierpaoli, D. Pietrobon, S. Plaszczynski, E. Pointecouteau, G. Polenta, N. Ponthieu, L. Popa, G. W. Pratt, S. Prunet, J. P. Rachen, R. Rebolo, M. Reinecke, M. Remazeilles, C. Renault, S. Ricciardi, I. Ristorcelli, G. Rocha, G. Roudier, B. Rusholme, M. Sandri, G. Savini, D. Scott, L. D. Spencer, V. Stolyarov, R. Sudiwala, D. Sutton, A. -S. Suur-Uski, J. -F. Sygnet, J. A. Tauber, D. Tavagnacco, L. Terenzi, L. Toffolatti, M. Tomasi, M. Tristram, M. Tucci, J. -P. Uzan, L. Valenziano, J. Valiviita, B. Van Tent, P. Vielva, F. Villa, L. A. Wade, D. Yvon, A. Zacchei, A. Zonca

University of Copenhagen

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Abstract

Any variation in the fundamental physical constants, more particularly in the fine structure constant, a, or in the mass of the electron, me, affects the recombination history of the Universe and cause an imprint on the cosmic microwave background angular power spectra. We show that the Planck data allow one to improve the constraint on the time variation of the fine structure constant at redshift z - 10(3) by about a factor of 5 compared to WMAP data, as well as to break the degeneracy with the Hubble constant, H₀. In addition to a, we can set a constraint on the variation in the mass of the electron, m_e, and in the simultaneous variation of the two constants. We examine in detail the degeneracies between fundamental constants and the cosmological parameters, in order to compare the limits obtained from Planck and WMAP and to determine the constraining power gained by including other cosmological probes. We conclude that independent time variations of the fine structure constant and of the mass of the electron are constrained by Planck to Δ Α/Α = (3.6±3.7) x 10^-3 and Δ m_e/m_e = (4 ±11) x 10^-3 at the 68% confidence level. We also investigate the possibility of a spatial variation of the fine structure constant. The relative amplitude of a dipolar spatial variation in a (corresponding to a gradient across our Hubble volume) is constrained to be Δ Α/Α = (-2.4±3.7) x 10^-2.

Original language	English
Article number	A22
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	580
Issue number	August 2015
Number of pages	25
ISSN	0004-6361
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424496
Publication status	Published - 2015

Keywords

Cosmology: observations
Cosmic background radiation
Cosmological parameters
Atomic data

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Ade, P. A. R., Aghanim, N., Arnaud, M., Ashdown, M., Aumont, J., Baccigalupi, C., Banday, A. J., Barreiro, R. B., Battaner, E., Benabed, K., Benoit-Levy, A., Bernard, J. .-P., Bersanelli, M., Bielewicz, P., Bond, J. R., Borrill, J., Bouchet, F. R., Burigana, C., Butler, R. C., ... Zonca, A. (2015). Planck intermediate results XXIV. Constraints on variations in fundamental constants. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 580(August 2015), Article A22. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424496

@article{52ae2d3ad0ea400cb364767866a65b0e,

title = "Planck intermediate results XXIV. Constraints on variations in fundamental constants",

abstract = "Any variation in the fundamental physical constants, more particularly in the fine structure constant, a, or in the mass of the electron, me, affects the recombination history of the Universe and cause an imprint on the cosmic microwave background angular power spectra. We show that the Planck data allow one to improve the constraint on the time variation of the fine structure constant at redshift z - 10(3) by about a factor of 5 compared to WMAP data, as well as to break the degeneracy with the Hubble constant, H0. In addition to a, we can set a constraint on the variation in the mass of the electron, me, and in the simultaneous variation of the two constants. We examine in detail the degeneracies between fundamental constants and the cosmological parameters, in order to compare the limits obtained from Planck and WMAP and to determine the constraining power gained by including other cosmological probes. We conclude that independent time variations of the fine structure constant and of the mass of the electron are constrained by Planck to Δ Α/Α = (3.6±3.7) x 10-3 and Δ me/me = (4 ±11) x 10-3 at the 68% confidence level. We also investigate the possibility of a spatial variation of the fine structure constant. The relative amplitude of a dipolar spatial variation in a (corresponding to a gradient across our Hubble volume) is constrained to be Δ Α/Α = (-2.4±3.7) x 10-2.",

keywords = "Cosmology: observations, Cosmic background radiation, Cosmological parameters, Atomic data",

author = "Ade, {P. A. R.} and N. Aghanim and M. Arnaud and M. Ashdown and J. Aumont and C. Baccigalupi and Banday, {A. J.} and Barreiro, {R. B.} and E. Battaner and K. Benabed and A. Benoit-Levy and Bernard, {J. -P.} and M. Bersanelli and P. Bielewicz and Bond, {J. R.} and J. Borrill and Bouchet, {F. R.} and C. Burigana and Butler, {R. C.} and E. Calabrese and A. Chamballu and Chiang, {H. C.} and Christensen, {P. R.} and Clements, {D. L.} and Colombo, {L. P. L.} and F. Couchot and A. Curto and F. Cuttaia and L. Danese and Davies, {R. D.} and Davis, {R. J.} and {de Bernardis}, P. and {de Rosa}, A. and {de Zotti}, G. and J. Delabrouille and Diego, {J. M.} and H. Dole and O. Dore and X. Dupac and Ensslin, {T. A.} and Eriksen, {H. K.} and O. Fabre and F. Finelli and O. Forni and M. Frailis and E. Franceschi and S. Galeotta and S. Galli and K. Ganga and M. Giard and J. Gonzalez-Nuevo and Gorski, {K. M.} and A. Gregorio and A. Gruppuso and Hansen, {F. K.} and D. Hanson and Harrison, {D. L.} and S. Henrot-Versille and C. Hernandez-Monteagudo and D. Herranz and Hildebrandt, {S. R.} and E. Hivon and M. Hobson and Holmes, {W. A.} and Allan Hornstrup and W. Hovest and Huffenberger, {K. M.} and Jaffe, {A. H.} and Jones, {W. C.} and E. Keihaenen and R. Keskitalo and R. Kneissl and J. Knoche and M. Kunz and H. Kurki-Suonio and Lamarre, {J. -M.} and A. Lasenby and Lawrence, {C. R.} and R. Leonardi and J. Lesgourgues and M. Liguori and Lilje, {P. B.} and Michael Linden-V{\o}rnle and M. Lopez-Caniego and Lubin, {P. M.} and Macias-Perez, {J. F.} and N. Mandolesi and M. Maris and Martin, {P. G.} and E. Martinez-Gonzalez and S. Masi and S. Matarrese and P. Mazzotta and Meinhold, {P. R.} and A. Melchiorri and L. Mendes and E. Menegoni and A. Mennella and M. Migliaccio and Miville-Deschenes, {M. -A.} and A. Moneti and L. Montier and G. Morgante and A. Moss and D. Munshi and Murphy, {J. A.} and P. Naselsky and F. Nati and P. Natoli and N{\o}rgaard-Nielsen, {Hans Ulrik} and F. Noviello and D. Novikov and I. Novikov and Oxborrow, {Carol Anne} and L. Pagano and Fernand Pajot and D. Paoletti and F. Pasian and G. Patanchon and O. Perdereau and L. Perotto and F. Perrotta and F. Piacentini and M. Piat and E. Pierpaoli and D. Pietrobon and S. Plaszczynski and E. Pointecouteau and G. Polenta and N. Ponthieu and L. Popa and Pratt, {G. W.} and S. Prunet and Rachen, {J. P.} and R. Rebolo and M. Reinecke and M. Remazeilles and C. Renault and S. Ricciardi and I. Ristorcelli and G. Rocha and G. Roudier and B. Rusholme and M. Sandri and G. Savini and D. Scott and Spencer, {L. D.} and V. Stolyarov and R. Sudiwala and D. Sutton and Suur-Uski, {A. -S.} and Sygnet, {J. -F.} and Tauber, {J. A.} and D. Tavagnacco and L. Terenzi and L. Toffolatti and M. Tomasi and M. Tristram and M. Tucci and Uzan, {J. -P.} and L. Valenziano and J. Valiviita and {Van Tent}, B. and P. Vielva and F. Villa and Wade, {L. A.} and D. Yvon and A. Zacchei and A. Zonca",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201424496",

language = "English",

volume = "580",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

number = "August 2015",

}

Ade, PAR, Aghanim, N, Arnaud, M, Ashdown, M, Aumont, J, Baccigalupi, C, Banday, AJ, Barreiro, RB, Battaner, E, Benabed, K, Benoit-Levy, A, Bernard, J-P, Bersanelli, M, Bielewicz, P, Bond, JR, Borrill, J, Bouchet, FR, Burigana, C, Butler, RC, Calabrese, E, Chamballu, A, Chiang, HC, Christensen, PR, Clements, DL, Colombo, LPL, Couchot, F, Curto, A, Cuttaia, F, Danese, L, Davies, RD, Davis, RJ, de Bernardis, P, de Rosa, A, de Zotti, G, Delabrouille, J, Diego, JM, Dole, H, Dore, O, Dupac, X, Ensslin, TA, Eriksen, HK, Fabre, O, Finelli, F, Forni, O, Frailis, M, Franceschi, E, Galeotta, S, Galli, S, Ganga, K, Giard, M, Gonzalez-Nuevo, J, Gorski, KM, Gregorio, A, Gruppuso, A, Hansen, FK, Hanson, D, Harrison, DL, Henrot-Versille, S, Hernandez-Monteagudo, C, Herranz, D, Hildebrandt, SR, Hivon, E, Hobson, M, Holmes, WA, Hornstrup, A, Hovest, W, Huffenberger, KM, Jaffe, AH, Jones, WC, Keihaenen, E, Keskitalo, R, Kneissl, R, Knoche, J, Kunz, M, Kurki-Suonio, H, Lamarre, J-M, Lasenby, A, Lawrence, CR, Leonardi, R, Lesgourgues, J, Liguori, M, Lilje, PB, Linden-Vørnle, M, Lopez-Caniego, M, Lubin, PM, Macias-Perez, JF, Mandolesi, N, Maris, M, Martin, PG, Martinez-Gonzalez, E, Masi, S, Matarrese, S, Mazzotta, P, Meinhold, PR, Melchiorri, A, Mendes, L, Menegoni, E, Mennella, A, Migliaccio, M, Miville-Deschenes, M-A, Moneti, A, Montier, L, Morgante, G, Moss, A, Munshi, D, Murphy, JA, Naselsky, P, Nati, F, Natoli, P, Nørgaard-Nielsen, HU, Noviello, F, Novikov, D, Novikov, I, Oxborrow, CA, Pagano, L, Pajot, F, Paoletti, D, Pasian, F, Patanchon, G, Perdereau, O, Perotto, L, Perrotta, F, Piacentini, F, Piat, M, Pierpaoli, E, Pietrobon, D, Plaszczynski, S, Pointecouteau, E, Polenta, G, Ponthieu, N, Popa, L, Pratt, GW, Prunet, S, Rachen, JP, Rebolo, R, Reinecke, M, Remazeilles, M, Renault, C, Ricciardi, S, Ristorcelli, I, Rocha, G, Roudier, G, Rusholme, B, Sandri, M, Savini, G, Scott, D, Spencer, LD, Stolyarov, V, Sudiwala, R, Sutton, D, Suur-Uski, A-S, Sygnet, J-F, Tauber, JA, Tavagnacco, D, Terenzi, L, Toffolatti, L, Tomasi, M, Tristram, M, Tucci, M, Uzan, J-P, Valenziano, L, Valiviita, J, Van Tent, B, Vielva, P, Villa, F, Wade, LA, Yvon, D, Zacchei, A & Zonca, A 2015, 'Planck intermediate results XXIV. Constraints on variations in fundamental constants', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 580, no. August 2015, A22. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424496

TY - JOUR

T1 - Planck intermediate results XXIV. Constraints on variations in fundamental constants

AU - Ade, P. A. R.

AU - Aghanim, N.

AU - Arnaud, M.

AU - Ashdown, M.

AU - Aumont, J.

AU - Baccigalupi, C.

AU - Banday, A. J.

AU - Barreiro, R. B.

AU - Battaner, E.

AU - Benabed, K.

AU - Benoit-Levy, A.

AU - Bernard, J. -P.

AU - Bersanelli, M.

AU - Bielewicz, P.

AU - Bond, J. R.

AU - Borrill, J.

AU - Bouchet, F. R.

AU - Burigana, C.

AU - Butler, R. C.

AU - Calabrese, E.

AU - Chamballu, A.

AU - Chiang, H. C.

AU - Christensen, P. R.

AU - Clements, D. L.

AU - Colombo, L. P. L.

AU - Couchot, F.

AU - Curto, A.

AU - Cuttaia, F.

AU - Danese, L.

AU - Davies, R. D.

AU - Davis, R. J.

AU - de Bernardis, P.

AU - de Rosa, A.

AU - de Zotti, G.

AU - Delabrouille, J.

AU - Diego, J. M.

AU - Dole, H.

AU - Dore, O.

AU - Dupac, X.

AU - Ensslin, T. A.

AU - Eriksen, H. K.

AU - Fabre, O.

AU - Finelli, F.

AU - Forni, O.

AU - Frailis, M.

AU - Franceschi, E.

AU - Galeotta, S.

AU - Galli, S.

AU - Ganga, K.

AU - Giard, M.

AU - Gonzalez-Nuevo, J.

AU - Gorski, K. M.

AU - Gregorio, A.

AU - Gruppuso, A.

AU - Hansen, F. K.

AU - Hanson, D.

AU - Harrison, D. L.

AU - Henrot-Versille, S.

AU - Hernandez-Monteagudo, C.

AU - Herranz, D.

AU - Hildebrandt, S. R.

AU - Hivon, E.

AU - Hobson, M.

AU - Holmes, W. A.

AU - Hornstrup, Allan

AU - Hovest, W.

AU - Huffenberger, K. M.

AU - Jaffe, A. H.

AU - Jones, W. C.

AU - Keihaenen, E.

AU - Keskitalo, R.

AU - Kneissl, R.

AU - Knoche, J.

AU - Kunz, M.

AU - Kurki-Suonio, H.

AU - Lamarre, J. -M.

AU - Lasenby, A.

AU - Lawrence, C. R.

AU - Leonardi, R.

AU - Lesgourgues, J.

AU - Liguori, M.

AU - Lilje, P. B.

AU - Linden-Vørnle, Michael

AU - Lopez-Caniego, M.

AU - Lubin, P. M.

AU - Macias-Perez, J. F.

AU - Mandolesi, N.

AU - Maris, M.

AU - Martin, P. G.

AU - Martinez-Gonzalez, E.

AU - Masi, S.

AU - Matarrese, S.

AU - Mazzotta, P.

AU - Meinhold, P. R.

AU - Melchiorri, A.

AU - Mendes, L.

AU - Menegoni, E.

AU - Mennella, A.

AU - Migliaccio, M.

AU - Miville-Deschenes, M. -A.

AU - Moneti, A.

AU - Montier, L.

AU - Morgante, G.

AU - Moss, A.

AU - Munshi, D.

AU - Murphy, J. A.

AU - Naselsky, P.

AU - Nati, F.

AU - Natoli, P.

AU - Nørgaard-Nielsen, Hans Ulrik

AU - Noviello, F.

AU - Novikov, D.

AU - Novikov, I.

AU - Oxborrow, Carol Anne

AU - Pagano, L.

AU - Pajot, Fernand

AU - Paoletti, D.

AU - Pasian, F.

AU - Patanchon, G.

AU - Perdereau, O.

AU - Perotto, L.

AU - Perrotta, F.

AU - Piacentini, F.

AU - Piat, M.

AU - Pierpaoli, E.

AU - Pietrobon, D.

AU - Plaszczynski, S.

AU - Pointecouteau, E.

AU - Polenta, G.

AU - Ponthieu, N.

AU - Popa, L.

AU - Pratt, G. W.

AU - Prunet, S.

AU - Rachen, J. P.

AU - Rebolo, R.

AU - Reinecke, M.

AU - Remazeilles, M.

AU - Renault, C.

AU - Ricciardi, S.

AU - Ristorcelli, I.

AU - Rocha, G.

AU - Roudier, G.

AU - Rusholme, B.

AU - Sandri, M.

AU - Savini, G.

AU - Scott, D.

AU - Spencer, L. D.

AU - Stolyarov, V.

AU - Sudiwala, R.

AU - Sutton, D.

AU - Suur-Uski, A. -S.

AU - Sygnet, J. -F.

AU - Tauber, J. A.

AU - Tavagnacco, D.

AU - Terenzi, L.

AU - Toffolatti, L.

AU - Tomasi, M.

AU - Tristram, M.

AU - Tucci, M.

AU - Uzan, J. -P.

AU - Valenziano, L.

AU - Valiviita, J.

AU - Van Tent, B.

AU - Vielva, P.

AU - Villa, F.

AU - Wade, L. A.

AU - Yvon, D.

AU - Zacchei, A.

AU - Zonca, A.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Any variation in the fundamental physical constants, more particularly in the fine structure constant, a, or in the mass of the electron, me, affects the recombination history of the Universe and cause an imprint on the cosmic microwave background angular power spectra. We show that the Planck data allow one to improve the constraint on the time variation of the fine structure constant at redshift z - 10(3) by about a factor of 5 compared to WMAP data, as well as to break the degeneracy with the Hubble constant, H0. In addition to a, we can set a constraint on the variation in the mass of the electron, me, and in the simultaneous variation of the two constants. We examine in detail the degeneracies between fundamental constants and the cosmological parameters, in order to compare the limits obtained from Planck and WMAP and to determine the constraining power gained by including other cosmological probes. We conclude that independent time variations of the fine structure constant and of the mass of the electron are constrained by Planck to Δ Α/Α = (3.6±3.7) x 10-3 and Δ me/me = (4 ±11) x 10-3 at the 68% confidence level. We also investigate the possibility of a spatial variation of the fine structure constant. The relative amplitude of a dipolar spatial variation in a (corresponding to a gradient across our Hubble volume) is constrained to be Δ Α/Α = (-2.4±3.7) x 10-2.

AB - Any variation in the fundamental physical constants, more particularly in the fine structure constant, a, or in the mass of the electron, me, affects the recombination history of the Universe and cause an imprint on the cosmic microwave background angular power spectra. We show that the Planck data allow one to improve the constraint on the time variation of the fine structure constant at redshift z - 10(3) by about a factor of 5 compared to WMAP data, as well as to break the degeneracy with the Hubble constant, H0. In addition to a, we can set a constraint on the variation in the mass of the electron, me, and in the simultaneous variation of the two constants. We examine in detail the degeneracies between fundamental constants and the cosmological parameters, in order to compare the limits obtained from Planck and WMAP and to determine the constraining power gained by including other cosmological probes. We conclude that independent time variations of the fine structure constant and of the mass of the electron are constrained by Planck to Δ Α/Α = (3.6±3.7) x 10-3 and Δ me/me = (4 ±11) x 10-3 at the 68% confidence level. We also investigate the possibility of a spatial variation of the fine structure constant. The relative amplitude of a dipolar spatial variation in a (corresponding to a gradient across our Hubble volume) is constrained to be Δ Α/Α = (-2.4±3.7) x 10-2.

KW - Cosmology: observations

KW - Cosmic background radiation

KW - Cosmological parameters

KW - Atomic data

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201424496

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201424496

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 580

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

IS - August 2015

M1 - A22

ER -

Planck intermediate results XXIV. Constraints on variations in fundamental constants

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Keywords

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