Fundamental constants and tests of general relativity - Theoretical and cosmological considerations

Abstract

The tests of the constancy of the fundamental constants are tests of the local position invariance and thus of the equivalence principle. We summarize the various constraints that have been obtained and then describe the connection between varying constants and extensions of general relativity. To finish, we discuss the link with cosmology, and more particularly with the acceleration of the Universe. We take the opportunity to summarize various possibilities to test general relativity (but also the Copernican principle) on cosmological scales.

Proceedings of the workshop ``The nature of gravity, confronting theory and experiment in space'', ISSI, Bern, october 2008