Overview
- Presents state-of-the-art in fundamental constants studies.
- Points to key developments anticipated for the coming years.
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings (ASSSP)
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Table of contents (17 papers)
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Front Matter
Keywords
About this book
Nature is characterized by a number of physical laws and fundamental dimensionless couplings. These determine the properties of our physical universe, from the size of atoms, cells and mountains to the ultimate fate of the universe as a whole. Yet it is rather remarkable how little we know about them. The constancy of physical laws is one of the cornerstones of the scientific research method, but for fundamental couplings this is an assumption with no other justification than a historical assumption. There is no 'theory of constants' describing their role in the underlying theories and how they relate to one another or how many of them are truly fundamental.
Studying the behaviour of these quantities throughout the history of the universe is an effective way to probe fundamental physics. This explains why the ESA and ESO include varying fundamental constants among their key science drivers for the next generation of facilities. This symposium discussed the state-of-the-art in the field, as well as the key developments anticipated for the coming years.
Editors and Affiliations
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: From Varying Couplings to Fundamental Physics
Book Subtitle: Proceedings of Symposium 1 of JENAM 2010
Editors: Carlos Martins, Paolo Molaro
Series Title: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19397-2
Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-642-19396-5Published: 29 May 2011
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-26849-6Published: 15 July 2013
eBook ISBN: 978-3-642-19397-2Published: 27 May 2011
Series ISSN: 1570-6591
Series E-ISSN: 1570-6605
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XII, 172
Topics: Astrophysics and Astroparticles, Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics, Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory, Cosmology, Astronomy, Observations and Techniques