Possible evidence for a variable fine-structure constant from QSO absorption lines: systematic errors

2000/12/31 by M. T. Murphy, John K. Webb, J. K. Webb +4 · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #astro-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04841.x

published as Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.327:1223,2001 · 15 pages, 8 figures, Accepted by MNRAS, small changes after referee's comments, accepted version

arxiv created 2001/07/22 · openalex publication_date 2001/11/11 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Comparison of quasar (QSO) absorption spectra with laboratory spectra allows us to probe possible variations in the fundamental constants over cosmological time-scales. In a companion paper we present an analysis of Keck/HIRES spectra and report possible evidence suggesting that the fine-structure constant, α, may have been smaller in the past: over the redshift range . In this paper we describe a comprehensive investigation into possible systematic effects. Most of these do not significantly influence our results. When we correct for those which do produce a significant systematic effect in the data, the deviation of from zero becomes more significant. We are led increasingly to the interpretation that α was slightly smaller in the past.

Citations

• Space-Time Variation of Physical Constants and Relativistic Corrections in Atoms

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