2023/12/07 by Paolo M. Bassani, Bassani, Paolo Massimo
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO) #FOS: Physical sciences #General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc) #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Relativity and Gravitational Theory
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2312.04260
openalex publication_date 2023/12/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We develop the Brans-Dicke theory of gravity in the context of varying constants of Nature. Using the unimodular formalism of General Relativity, we create a platform to provide physical relational times giving the evolution of physical constants. We therefore review the ideas and experiments behind varying constants, mostly focusing on the speed of light and the gravitational constant. Then, we apply this idea to the energy conservation in cosmology, illustrating the arising patterns. Motivated by a varying gravitational constant resulting from Mach's principle, we develop the unimodular formalism of varying constants in the Brans-Dicke theory. Doing so, we obtain several original results, some of which can be compared with phenomenological observation. Finally, we suggest how a varying Brans-Dicke parameter could be linked to the Cosmological Constant problem.