Search for Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant

1998/03/31 by John K. Webb, V. V. Flambaum, Victor V. Flambaum +4 · 68 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Spectroscopy and Laser Applications #astro-ph #gr-qc #hep-ph #physics.atom-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.82.884

published as Phys.Rev.Lett.82:884-887,1999 · 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

arxiv created 1998/12/16 · openalex publication_date 1999/02/01 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

An order of magnitude sensitivity gain is described for using quasar spectra to investigate possible time or space variation in the fine structure constant \ensuremathα. Applied to a sample of 30 absorption systems, spanning redshifts 0.5<z<1.6, we derive limits on variations in \ensuremathα over a wide range of epochs. For the whole sample, \ensuremathΔ\ensuremathα/\ensuremathα\phantom\rule0ex0ex=\phantom\rule0ex0ex(\ensuremath-1.1\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.4)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-5. This deviation is dominated by measurements at z>1, where \ensuremathΔ\ensuremathα/\ensuremathα\phantom\rule0ex0ex=\phantom\rule0ex0ex(\ensuremath-1.9\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.5)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-5. For z<1, \ensuremathΔ\ensuremathα/\ensuremathα\phantom\rule0ex0ex=\phantom\rule0ex0ex(\ensuremath-0.2\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.4)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10^\ensuremath-5. While this is consistent with a time-varying \ensuremathα, further work is required to explore possible systematic errors in the data, although careful searches have so far revealed none.

Citations

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

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