Constraining a stochastic variation of the gravitational coupling with binary systems

Abstract

We consider the effect of stochastic fluctuations of the gravitational coupling G on the evolution of binary systems. We work at an elementary level, in the Newtonian limit, and focus mainly on laser ranging. We show that, due to cumulative effects, observational data may be used to put bounds on the stochastic fluctuations. We also reanalyze previous results on the implications of stochastic fluctuations of G on cosmological models.