Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium

2006/09/30 by A. Cingoz, A. Cingöz, A. Lapierre +7 · 6 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Atomic physics #Degenerate energy levels #Dysprosium #Nuclear physics #Parity (physics) #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #physics.atom-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.98.040801

published as Phys.Rev.Lett.98:040801,2007 · 4 pages, 2 figures

arxiv created 2006/11/09 · openalex publication_date 2007/01/26 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Over 8 months, we monitored transition frequencies between nearly degenerate, opposite-parity levels in two isotopes of atomic dysprosium (Dy). These frequencies are sensitive to variation of the fine-structure constant (\ensuremathα) due to relativistic corrections of opposite sign for the opposite-parity levels. In this unique system, in contrast to atomic-clock comparisons, the difference of the electronic energies of the opposite-parity levels can be monitored directly utilizing a rf electric-dipole transition between them. Our measurements show that the frequency variation of the 3.1-MHz transition in ¹⁶³Dy and the 235-MHz transition in ¹⁶²Dy are 9.0\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi6.7 Hz/yr and \ensuremath-0.6\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi6.5 Hz/yr, respectively. These results provide a rate of fractional variation of \ensuremathα of (\ensuremath-2.7\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi2.6)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-15 yr^\ensuremath-1 (1\ensuremathσ) without assumptions on constancy of other fundamental constants, indicating absence of significant variation at the present level of sensitivity.

Citations

• The fundamental constants and their variation: observational and theoretical status
• Space-Time Variation of Physical Constants and Relativistic Corrections in Atoms
• Towards a sensitive search for variation of the fine-structure constant using radio-frequencyE1transitions in atomic dysprosium
• Limit on the Present Temporal Variation of the Fine Structure Constant
• Time variability of α from realistic models of Oklo reactors

Cited by

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• Effective three-particle forces in polyvalent atoms
• Generalized theory of varying alpha
• Limits on Violations of Lorentz Symmetry and the Einstein Equivalence Principle using Radio-Frequency Spectroscopy of Atomic Dysprosium