Electromagnetism: does its strength vary across the Universe?

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/223400

Title: Electromagnetism: does its strength vary across the Universe?
Author(s): Murphy, Michael T.
Abstract: The fundamental constants are central to our theories of physics, yet those theories offer no understanding of the constants, no way to calculate them. If the constants were found to vary, we might learn what they depend on and perhaps glimpse a more fundamental theory, perhaps 'the' theory. For a decade we've found that a, the fine-structure constant, which characterises electromagnetism's strength, is slightly smaller in distant galaxies, at least those appearing in the northern sky, than on Earth. But now, with measurements over both hemispheres, we find evidence for a dipole-like variation in a across the sky. The fine-structure constant a could be the first fundamental constant that isn't.
Publication type: Journal article
Source: Australian Physics, Vol. 49, no. 2 (2012), pp. 43-48
Publication year: 2012
FOR Code(s): 0105 Mathematical Physics
Keyword(s): Electromagnetism; Universe
Publisher: Australian Institute of Physics
ISSN: 1036-3831
Publisher URL: http://www.aip.org.au/content/publications