Method for Precision Test of Fine Structure Constant Variation with Optical Frequency References

2000/12/21 by J. R. Torgerson, Torgerson, J. R.
Decision Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #FOS: Physical sciences #General Physics (physics.gen-ph) #Optics (physics.optics) #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation #physics.atom-ph #physics.gen-ph #physics.optics

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.physics/0012054

5 pages, 2 figures

openalex publication_date 2000/12/21 · arxiv created 2001/12/24 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

A new method for examining the possible space-time variation of the fine structure constant (α) is proposed. The technique uses a relatively simple measurement with an optical resonator to compare atom-stabilized optical frequency references. This method does not require that the exact frequency of each reference be measured, and has the potential to yield more than a 1000-fold improvement in experimental sensitivity to changes in α. A specific realization of an experiment using this method is discussed which can approach the precision of α/α∼10^-18/τ, where τ is the measurement time. Moreover, for this specific realization, a measurement of α/α∼10^-15/\rm yr as a near-term goal is realistic.

Related

• The fine structure constant: a review of measurement results and possible space-time variations
• Atomic Clocks and Constraints on Variations of Fundamental Constants
• Atomic Clocks and the Search for Variation of the Fine Structure Constant
• Precision Optical Measurements and Fundamental Physical Constants
• Testing the variation of fundamental constants by astrophysical methods: overview and prospects