Related papers: Improved access to the fine-structure constant wit…
We present a review of recent works devoted to the variation of the fine structure constant alpha, strong interaction and fundamental masses. There are some hints for the variation in quasar absorption spectra, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, and…
Astrophysical tests of the stability of dimensionless fundamental couplings, such as the fine-structure constant $\alpha$, are an area of much increased recent activity, following some indications of possible spacetime variations at the few…
In this review we discuss the progress of the past decade in testing for a possible temporal variation of the fine structure constant $\alpha$. Advances in atomic sample preparation, laser spectroscopy and optical frequency measurements led…
We use the relativistic Hartree-Fock method, many-body perturbation theory and configuration-interaction method to calculate the dependence of atomic transition frequencies on the fine structure constant, alpha. The results of these…
Experiments aimed at searching for variations in the fine-structure constant $\alpha$ are based on spectroscopy of transitions in microscopic bound systems, such as atoms and ions, or resonances in optical cavities. The sensitivities of…
We test the consistency of several independent astrophysical measurements of fundamental dimensionless constants. In particular, we compare direct measurements of the fine-structure constant $\alpha$ and the proton-to-electron mass ratio…
The fine structure constant $\alpha$ has a particular status in physics. Its precise determination is required to test the quantum electrodynamics (QED) theory. The constant $\alpha$ is also a keystone for the determination of other…
The fine structure constant, alpha, is shown to be proportional to the ratio of the quanta of electric and magnetic flux of force of the electron, and provides a new representation, which is global across all unit systems. Consequently, a…
We present a refined and improved study of the influence of screening on the effective fine structure constant of graphene, $\alpha^*$, as measured in graphite using inelastic x-ray scattering. This follow-up to our previous study [J. P.…
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…
The progress of Particle Physics is closely linked to the progress in the understanding of the fundamental constants, like the finestructure constant, the mass of the electron or nucleon, or the electroweak mixing angle. The relation…
This review article describes the trapping of charged particles. The main principles of electromagnetic confinement of various species from elementary particles to heavy atoms are briefly described. The preparation and manipulation with…
We report a new measurement of the ratio $h/m_{\mathrm{Rb}}$ between the Planck constant and the mass of $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atom. A new value of the fine structure constant is deduced, $\alpha^{-1}=137.035\,999\,037\,(91)$ with a relative…
The current observational and experimental bounds on the time variation of the constants of nature (the fine structure constant $\alpha$, the gravitational constant $G$ and the proton-electron mass ratio $\mu=m_p/m_e$) are reviewed.
A new method based on large-scale structure observations is proposed to probe a possible time variation of the fine-structure constant ($\alpha$). Our analyses are based on time-delay of Strong Gravitational Lensing and Type Ia Supernovae…
We consider several transitions between narrow lines that have an enhanced sensitivity to a possible variation of the fine structure constant, alpha. This enhancement may allow a search to be performed with an effective suppression of the…
Atomic data determined by analysis of observed atomic spectra are essential for plasma diagnostics. For each low-ionisation open d- and f-subshell atomic species, around $10^3$ fine structure level energies can be determined through years…
The increased collecting area of the ELTs will bring fainter high-z targets within the reach of high-resolution ultra-stable spectrographs, thus enabling a new generation of precision consistency tests, including tests of the stability of…
We report a robust constrain on the possible variation of fine-structure constant, alpha = e^2/(hbar*c), obtained using O III 4959,5007, nebular emission lines from QSOs. We find Delta-alpha/alpha=-(2.1 +/- 1.6) x 10^(-5) based on a well…
We compute primordial light-element abundances for cases with fine structure constant alpha different from the present value, including many sources of alpha dependence neglected in previous calculations. Specifically, we consider…