Differential Measurements of the Fine-Structure Constant from Quasar Spectra - a Test of Kaluza-Klein Cosmologies

Details Differential Measurements of the Fine-Structure Constant from Quasar Spectra - a Test of Kaluza-Klein Cosmologies Differential Measurements of the Fine-Structure Constant from Quasar Spectra - a Test of Kaluza-Klein Cosmologies

Jul 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994mnras.269..339l&link_type=abstract

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 269, NO. 2/JUL15, P. 339, 1994

Mathematics

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23

Scientific paper

Kaluza-Klein theories, which predict variability of the Fine-structure constant {a} = e^2^/hc, are tested using new high-resolution observations of resonance doublets of Na-like ions observed in QSO absorption spectra at different redshifts. Previous results on the cosmic time variability of a have been revised. The statistical correlations between errors in experimentally measured data are considered, and the generalized probability density function of the α_z_/α ratio (α_z_ is the value of α at redshift z) is derived. The shape of this function is shown to be asymmetric. As a result, all estimates of sample means <α_z_/α) obtained previously appear to be biased The upper limit, |{DELTA}α|α|<= 0.5 per cent at z ~0.4, is derived on the basis of two isolated Mg II λλ2796, 2804 doublets, which show symmetrical profiles at high resolution. This limit restricts any changes in the size of the extra dimensions in Kaluza-Klein models to about 0.3 per cent since z ~ 0.4. It is shown that new observations of the fine-structure splitting in the ^23^NaI and ^27^A1 III resonance doublets, with improved resolution and sensitivity, may yield higher (~0.01 per cent) in differential measurements of a from the quasar absorption-line spectra.

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