Abstract
We consider a long range scalar force that mainly couples to dark matter and unstable Standard Model states, like the muon, with tiny strength. Probing this type of force would present a challenge to observations. We point out that the dependence of the induced background scalar field on dark matter number density can cause the mass of the unstable particles to have spatial and temporal variations. These variations, in turn, leave an imprint on the value of the fine structure constant α, through threshold corrections, that could be detected in astronomical and cosmological measurements. Our mechanism can accommodate the mild preference of the Planck data for such a deviation, (αCMB−αpresent)/αpresent=(−3.6±3.7)×10−3. In this case, the requisite parameters typically imply that violations of Equivalence Principle may be within reach of future experiments.
Highlights
Though dark matter (DM) makes up about a quarter of the energy budget in the Universe, its properties remain mostly unknown [1]
Once one accepts that DM may have long range interactions, it is natural to ask what other states are coupled to such a force
If the particles in question are the stable constituents of atoms, the electron and nucleons, the strength of their coupling to the long range force is extremely well constrained by tests of the Equivalence Principle and “fifth force” searches, requiring the strength of those interactions to be sub-gravitational
Summary
Hooman Davoudiasl ∗ and Pier Paolo Giardino † Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA. We consider a long range scalar force that mainly couples to dark matter and unstable Standard Model states, like the muon, with tiny strength. We point out that the dependence of the induced background scalar field on dark matter number density can cause the mass of the unstable particles to have spatial and temporal variations. Our mechanism can accommodate the mild preference of the Planck data for such a deviation, (αCMB − αpresent)/αpresent = (−3.6 ± 3.7) × 10−3. In this case, the requisite parameters typically imply that violations of Equivalence Principle may be within reach of future experiments
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