Fundamental Constants as Monitors of the Universe
  Astronomical observations have a unique ability to determine the laws of
physics at distant times in the universe. They, therefore, have particular
relevance in answering the basic question as to whether the laws of physics are
invariant with time. The dimesionless fundamental constants, such as the proton
to electron mass ratio and the fine structure constant are key elements in the
investigation. If they vary with time then the answer is clearly that the laws
of physics are not invariant with time and significant new physics must be
developed to describe the universe. Limits on their variance, on the other
hand, constrains the parameter space available to new physics that requires a
variation with time of basic physical law. There are now observational
constraints on the time variation of the proton to electron mass ratio mu at
the 1.E-7 level. Constraints on the variation of the fine structure constant
alpha are less rigorous, 1E-5, but are imposed at higher redshift. The
implications of these limits on new cosmologies that require rolling scalar
fields has already had its first investigations. Here we address the
implications on basic particle physics. The proton to electron mass ratio is
obviously dependent on the particle physics parameters that set the mass of the
proton and the electron. To first order the ratio is dependent on a combination
of the Quantum Chromodynamic scale, the Yukawa couplings, and the Higgs Vacuum
Expectation Value. Here that relationship is quantitative defined for the first
time. When coupled with previous determinations of the relation of the fine
structure constant to the same parameters two constraints exist on the
fractional variation of these parameters with time. A third independent
constraint involving only the three parameters could set the stage for
constraints on their individual fractional variation.
