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

1998/02/14 by V. A. Dzuba, V. V. Flambaum, John K. Webb +1 · 10 citations
Decision Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Molecular Physics #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation #astro-ph #physics.atom-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.82.888

8 pages; LaTeX; Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett

arxiv created 1998/02/14 · openalex publication_date 1999/02/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

High-redshift absorption systems detected in the optical spectra of quasars provide a powerful tool for constraining possible spatial and temporal variations of physical ``constants'' in the Universe. It is demonstrated that high sensitivity to the variation of the fine structure constant \ensuremathα can be obtained from a comparison of the spectra of heavy and light atoms. We have performed calculations for Mg I, Mg II, Cr II, and Fe II for which accurate quasar and laboratory spectra are available. Some possibilities for observing enhanced effects in variations of the fundamental constants in laboratory measurements are also discussed.

Citations

• Atomic data for resonance absorption lines. I - Wavelengths longward of the Lyman limit

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