Related papers: Constraining changes in the proton-electron mass r…
In an effort to resolve the discrepancy between two measurements of the fundamental constant mu, the proton to electron mass ratio, at early times in the universe we reanalyze the same data used in the earlier studies. Our analysis of the…
Multidimensional cosmologies allow for variations of fundamental physical constants over the course of cosmological evolution, and different versions of the theories predict different time dependences. In particular, such variations could…
Molecular transitions recently discovered at redshift z_abs=2.059 toward the bright background quasar J2123-0050 are analysed to limit cosmological variation in the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu=m_p/m_e. Observed with the Keck…
The Standard Model of particle physics assumes that the so-called fundamental constants are universal and unchanging. Absorption lines arising in molecular clouds along quasar sightlines offer a precise test for variations in the…
We calculate the sensitivity of the inversion spectrum of ammonia to possible time-variation of the ratio of the proton mass to the electron mass, mu=m_p/m_e. For the inversion transition (lambda= 1.25 cm^{-1}) the relative frequency shift…
Molecular hydrogen (H2) absorption features observed in the line-of-sight to Q2348-011 at redshift zabs = 2.426 are analysed for the purpose of detecting a possible variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio mu=mp/me. By its structure…
We report on the using of torsion-rotational transitions in the CH3OH and (13)CH3OH molecules to evaluate possible variations of the physical constant mu=m_e/m_p - the electron-to-proton mass ratio - from spectral observations of emission…
We report on new tests that improve our previous (2009-2010) estimates of the electron-to-proton mass ratio variation, mu = m_e/m_p. Subsequent observations (2011-2013) at the Effelsberg 100-m telescope of a sample of eight molecular cores…
Observations of H2 spectra in the line-of-sight of distant quasars may reveal a variation of the proton-electron mass ratio mu=m_p/m_e at high redshift, typically for z>2. Currently four high-quality systems (Q0347-383, Q0405-443, Q0528-250…
(abridged) Quasar absorption lines provide a precise test of the assumed constancy of the fundamental constants of physics. We have investigated potential changes in the fine-structure constant, alpha, and the proton-to-electron mass ratio,…
The possible cosmological variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio was estimated by measuring the H_2 wavelengths in the high-resolution spectrum of the quasar Q~0347-382. Our analysis yielded an estimate for the possible deviation of…
So far the only seemingly significant indication of a cosmological variation exists for the proton-to-electron mass ratio as stated by Reinhold et al. (2006). The measured indication of variation is based on the combined analysis of H2…
The study of redshifted spectral lines can provide a measure of the fundamental constants over large look-back times. Current grand unified theories predict an evolution in these constants and astronomical observations offer the only…
In this paper, we show that methanol (CH3OH) torsional-rotational transitions, which have increased sensitivity to small variations of mu - the electron-to-proton mass ratio, are shifted relative to less sensitive transitions in the…
Absorption by carbon monoxide in the spectrum of quasar SDSS J000015.16+004833.2 is investigated in order to derive a constraint on the temporal variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu. The spectrum was recorded using VLT/UVES,…
Nine quasar absorption spectra at 21-cm and UV rest-wavelengths are used to estimate possible variations in x=alpha^2 g_p mu, (alpha is the fine structure constant, g_p the proton g-factor and mu=me/mp the electron-to-proton mass ratio). We…
Numerous accidental near-degeneracies exist between the $2\nu_2$ and $\nu_4$ rotation-vibration energy levels of ammonia. Transitions between these two states possess significantly enhanced sensitivity to a possible variation of the…
(Abridged) Many-multiplet (MM) method applied to three inhomogeneous samples of Keck/HIRES quasar absorption spectra gives a shift in the value of the fine-structure constant of Delta alpha/alpha = (-5.4+/-1.2) 10^{-6} in the redshift range…
A molecular hydrogen absorber at a lookback time of 12.4 billion years, corresponding to 10$\%$ of the age of the universe today, is analyzed to put a constraint on a varying proton--electron mass ratio, $\mu$. A high resolution spectrum of…
Molecular transitions recently discovered at redshift z_abs=2.059 toward the bright background quasar J2123-0050 are analysed to limit cosmological variation in the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu=m_p/m_e. Observed with the Keck…