A Search for Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant

Details A Search for Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant A Search for Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant

1998-03-16

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9803165v4

Phys.Rev.Lett.82:884-887,1999

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.884

A method offering an order of magnitude sensitivity gain is described for using quasar spectra to investigate possible time or space variation in the fine structure constant, alpha. Applying the technique to a sample of 30 absorption systems, spanning redshifts 0.5 < z< 1.6, obtained with the Keck I telescope, we derive limits on variations in alpha over a wide range of epochs. For the whole sample Delta(alpha)/alpha = -1.1 +/- 0.4 x 10^{-5}. This deviation is dominated by measurements at z > 1, where Delta(alpha)/alpha = -1.9 +/- 0.5 x 10^{-5}. For z < 1, Delta(alpha)/alpha = -0.2 +/- 0.4 x 10^{-5}, consistent with other known constraints. Whilst these results are consistent with a time-varying alpha, further work is required to explore possible systematic errors in the data, although careful searches have so far not revealed any.

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