Are particle rest masses variable: Theory and constraints from solar system experiments

Journal Article · Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 1977 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.15.1458· OSTI ID:7226092

Bekenstein, J D

Particle rest mass variation in spacetime is considered. According to Dicke, if this is the case various null experiments indicate that all masses vary in the same way. Their variation relative to the Planck-Wheeler mass defines a universal scalar rest-mass field. We construct the relativistic dynamics for this field based on very general assumptions. In addition, we assume Einstein's equations to be valid in Planck-Wheeler units. A special case of the theory coincides with Dicke's reformulation of Brans-Dicke theory as general relativity with variable rest masses. In the general case the rest-mass field is some power r of a scalar field which obeys an ordinary scalar equation with coupling to the curvature of strength q. The r and q are the only parameters of the theory. Comparison with experiment is facilitated by recasting the theory into units in which rest masses are constant, the Planck-Wheeler mass varies, and the metric satisfies the equations of a small subset of the scalar-tensor theories of gravitation. The results of solar system experiments, usually used to test general relativity, are here used to delimit the acceptable values of r and q. We conclude that if cosmological considerations are not invoked, then the solar system experiments do not rule out the possibility of rest-mass variability. That is, there are theories which agree with all null and solar system experiments, and yet contradict the strong equivalence principle by allowing rest masses to vary relative to the Planck-Wheeler mass. We show that the field theory of the rest-mass field can be quantized and interpreted in terms of massless scalar quanta which interact very weakly with matter. This explains why they have not turned up in high-energy experiments. In future reports we shall investigate the implications of various cosmological and astrophysical data for the theory of variable rest masses. The ultimate goal is a firm decision on whether rest masses vary or not.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84120, Israel
• OSTI ID: 7226092
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Vol. 15:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
REST MASS
TIME DEPENDENCE
CONFORMAL INVARIANCE
EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
SCALAR FIELDS
SOLAR SYSTEM
SPACE-TIME
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
640106* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmology