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Arxiv: JWST observations constrain the time evolution of fine structure constants and dark energy - electromagnetic coupling Published: 11/13/2024 6:59:19 PM Updated: 11/13/2024 6:59:19 PM

Paper abstract: It was hypothesized in the literature that some physical parameters may betime-evolving and the astrophysical data can serve as a probe. Recently, JamesWebb Space Telescope (JWST) have released its early observations. In this work,we select the JWST spectroscopic observations of the high redshift (z>7.1)galaxies with strong [OIII] (\lambda=4959 \AA \,and 5007 \AA \,in the restframe) emission lines to constraint the evolution of the fine structureconstant (\alpha). With the spectra from two galaxies at redshifts of 7.19and 8.47, the deviation of \alpha to its fiducial value is found to be assmall as 0.44^{+8.4+1.7}_{-8.3-1.7} \times 10^{-4} and-10.0^{+18+1.5}_{-18-1.5} \times 10^{-4}, respectively (the first error isstatistical and the latter is systematic). The combination of our results withthe previous data reveals that \frac{1}{\alpha} \frac{d \alpha}{dt} =0.30^{+4.5}_{-4.5} \times 10^{-17}~{\rm yr^{-1}}. Clearly, there is noevidence for a cosmic evolution of \alpha. The prospect of furtherconstraining the time evolution of \alpha is also discussed. The scalar fieldof dark energy is hypothesized to drive the acceleration of the universe'sexpansion through an interaction with the electromagnetic field. By integratingthe observational data of the fine-structure constant variation,\frac{\Delta\alpha}{\alpha}(z), we have established a stringent upper limiton the coupling strength between dark energy and electromagnetism. Our analysisyields \zeta <= 3.92 \times 10^{-7} at the 95\% confidence level,representing the most stringent bound to date.