Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Scientific paper
2012-02-28
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
21 pages, no figures; submitted to a "focus issue" of Classical and Quantum Gravity on Tests of the Weak Equivalence Principle
Scientific paper
We review several theoretical aspects of the Equivalence Principle (EP). We emphasize the unsatisfactory fact that the EP maintains the absolute character of the coupling constants of physics while General Relativity, and its generalizations (Kaluza-Klein,..., String Theory), suggest that all absolute structures should be replaced by dynamical entities. We discuss the EP-violation phenomenology of dilaton-like models, which is likely to be dominated by the linear superposition of two effects: a signal proportional to the nuclear Coulomb energy, related to the variation of the fine-structure constant, and a signal proportional to the surface nuclear binding energy, related to the variation of the light quark masses. We recall the various theoretical arguments (including a recently proposed anthropic argument) suggesting that the EP be violated at a small, but not unmeasurably small level. This motivates the need for improved tests of the EP. These tests are probing new territories in physics that are related to deep, and mysterious, issues in fundamental physics.
No associations
LandOfFree
Theoretical Aspects of the Equivalence Principle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Theoretical Aspects of the Equivalence Principle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Theoretical Aspects of the Equivalence Principle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-612649