scholarly journals Searching for space-time variation of the fine structure constant using QSO spectra: overview and future prospects

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 304-304
Author(s):  
J. C. Berengut ◽  
V. A. Dzuba ◽  
V. V. Flambaum ◽  
J. A. King ◽  
M. G. Kozlov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Structure Constant ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
The Universe

Current theories that seek to unify gravity with the other fundamental interactions suggest that spatial and temporal variation of fundamental constants is a possibility, or even a necessity, in an expanding Universe. Several studies have tried to probe the values of constants at earlier stages in the evolution of the Universe, using tools such as big-bang nucleosynthesis, the Oklo natural nuclear reactor, quasar absorption spectra, and atomic clocks (see, e.g. Flambaum & Berengut (2009)).

SPACE-TIME VARIATION OF COUPLING CONSTANTS AND FUNDAMENTAL MASSES

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (18n19) ◽  
pp. 3342-3353 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. V. FLAMBAUM ◽  
J. C. BERENGUT
Keyword(s):  
Structure Constant ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Coupling Constants ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Variation ◽  
Physical Systems ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
The Universe

We review recent works discussing the effects of variation of fundamental "constants" on a variety of physical systems. These are motivated by theories unifying gravity with other interactions that suggest the possibility of temporal and spatial variation of the fundamental constants in an expanding Universe. The effects of any potential variation of the fine-structure constant and fundamental masses could be seen in phenomena covering the lifespan of the Universe, from Big Bang nucleosynthesis to quasar absorption spectra to modern atomic clocks. We review recent attempts to find such variations and discuss some of the most promising new systems where huge enhancements of the effects may occur.

scholarly journals Fundamental Constants in Time from the Big-Bang

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heikki Sipilä ◽  
Ari Lehto
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Dynamical Systems ◽  
Structure Constant ◽  
Period Doubling ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Atomic Spectroscopy ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Theoretical Interpretation ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Spatial Direction ◽  
Nonlinear Dynamical

Our understanding and theoretical interpretation of observations in astrophysics and cosmology depends on our knowledge of the fundamental constants and their possible dependence on time and space. Atomic spectroscopy and radio astronomy give important information on the validity and stability of the fundamental constants. The possible dependence of the fine structure constant alpha on time and spatial direction is an active topic of research.Period doubling is a universal property of nonlinear dynamical systems, and the doubling is exact in principle. The value of the elementary charge squared can be calculated by the period doubling process from the Planck charge and thereby the value of alpha.If ‘old’ and ‘new’ electrons are identical, then the Planck charge, i.e. a set of natural constants, has remained constant over time. In this article we show that the value of alpha calculated from the Planck charge is 0.007 % larger than the current accepted value of alpha.

scholarly journals Primordial nucleosynthesis with varying fundamental constants

2020 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. L11 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Clara ◽  
C. J. A. P. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Standard Model ◽  
Broad Class ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Structure Constant ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Primordial Nucleosynthesis ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
Theoretical Predictions

Primordial nucleosynthesis is an observational cornerstone of the Hot Big Bang model and a sensitive probe of physics beyond the standard model. Its success has been limited by the so-called lithium problem, for which many solutions have been proposed. We report on a self-consistent perturbative analysis of the effects of variations in nature’s fundamental constants, which are unavoidable in most extensions of the standard model, on primordial nucleosynthesis, focusing on a broad class of Grand Unified Theory models. A statistical comparison between theoretical predictions and observational measurements of 4He, D, 3He and, 7Li consistently yields a preferred value of the fine-structure constant α at the nucleosynthesis epoch that is larger than the current laboratory one. The level of statistical significance and the preferred extent of variation depend on model assumptions but the former can be more than four standard deviations, while the latter is always compatible with constraints at lower redshifts. If lithium is not included in the analysis, the preference for a variation of α is not statistically significant. The abundance of 3He is relatively insensitive to such variations. Our analysis highlights a viable and physically motivated solution to the lithium problem, which warrants further study.

VARIATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS: THEORY AND OBSERVATIONS

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (27) ◽  
pp. 4937-4950 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. V. FLAMBAUM
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Spectra ◽  
Time Variation ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Atomic Clock ◽  
Structure Constant ◽  
Scalar Fields ◽  
Big Bang ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Physical Constants

Review of recent works devoted to the variation of the fine structure constant α, strong interaction and fundamental masses (Higgs vacuum) is presented. The results from Big Bang nucleosynthesis, quasar absorption spectra, and Oklo natural nuclear reactor data give us the space-time variation on the Universe lifetime scale. Comparison of different atomic clocks gives us the present time variation. Assuming linear variation with time we can compare different results. The best limit on the variation of the electron-to-proton mass ratio μ = me/Mp and Xe = me/ΛQCD follows from the quasar absorption spectra:1[Formula: see text]. A combination of this result and the atomic clock results2,3 gives the best limt on variation of [Formula: see text]. The Oklo natural reactor gives the best limit on the variation of Xs = ms/ΛQCD where ms is the strange quark mass:4,5[Formula: see text]. Note that the Oklo data can not give us any limit on the variation of α since the effect of α there is much smaller than the effect of Xs and should be neglected. Huge enhancement of the relative variation effects happens in transitions between close atomic, molecular and nuclear energy levels. We suggest several new cases where the levels are very narrow. Large enhancement of the variation effects is also possible in cold atomic and molecular collisions near Feshbach resonance. How changing physical constants and violation of local position invariance may occur? Light scalar fields very naturally appear in modern cosmological models, affecting parameters of the Standard Model (e.g. α). Cosmological variations of these scalar fields should occur because of drastic changes of matter composition in Universe: the latest such event is rather recent (about 5 billion years ago), from matter to dark energy domination. Massive bodies (stars or galaxies) can also affect physical constants. They have large scalar charge S proportional to number of particles which produces a Coulomb-like scalar field U = S/r. This leads to a variation of the fundamental constants proportional to the gravitational potential, e.g. δα/α = kαδ(GM/rc2). We compare different manifestations of this effect. The strongest limits6kα + 0.17ke = (-3.5 ±6) × 10-7 and kα + 0.13kq = (-1 ± 17) × 10-7 are obtained from the measurements of dependence of atomic frequencies on the distance from Sun2,7 (the distance varies due to the ellipticity of the Earth's orbit).

scholarly journals VARIABILITY OF FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (09) ◽  
pp. 1751-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
ASHER PERES
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Maxwell Equations ◽  
Structure Constant ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
The Other ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Speed Of Light ◽  
Constant E

Are universal fundamental constants really constant over cosmological times? Recent observations of the fine structure of spectral lines in the early universe have been interpreted as due to a variation of the fine structure constant e2/4πε0ℏc. From the assumed validity of Maxwell equations in general relativity and well known experimental facts, it is proved that e and ℏ are absolute constants. On the other hand, the speed of light need not be constant.

scholarly journals New Limit on Space-Time Variations in the Proton-to-Electron Mass Ratio from Analysis of Quasar J110325-264515 Spectra

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 344
Author(s):  
T. D. Le
Keyword(s):  
Fine Structure ◽  
Structure Constant ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Electron Mass ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Quasar Spectra ◽  
Time Variations ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Universe

Astrophysical tests of current values for dimensionless constants known on Earth, such as the fine-structure constant, α , and proton-to-electron mass ratio, μ = m p / m e , are communicated using data from high-resolution quasar spectra in different regions or epochs of the universe. The symmetry wavelengths of [Fe II] lines from redshifted quasar spectra of J110325-264515 and their corresponding values in the laboratory were combined to find a new limit on space-time variations in the proton-to-electron mass ratio, ∆ μ / μ = ( 0.096 ± 0.182 ) × 10 − 7 . The results show how the indicated astrophysical observations can further improve the accuracy and space-time variations of physics constants.

Big Bang nucleosynthesis as a probe of varying fundamental “constants”

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Dent ◽  
Steffen Stern ◽  
Christof Wetterich ◽  
Arttu Rajantie ◽  
Carlo Contaldi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Big Bang ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

scholarly journals Fundamental physics and the fine-structure constant

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Sherbon
Keyword(s):  
Fine Structure ◽  
Structure Constant ◽  
Fine Structure Constant ◽  
Electron Mass ◽  
Fundamental Constants ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Fundamental Physics ◽  
Weak Force ◽  
Strong Force ◽  
Symmetry Principles

From the exponential function of Euler’s equation to the geometry of a fundamental form, a calculation of the fine-structure constant and its relationship to the proton-electron mass ratio is given. Equations are found for the fundamental constants of the four forces of nature: electromagnetism, the weak force, the strong force and the force of gravitation. Symmetry principles are then associated with traditional physical measures.

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