Related papers: The Fine-Structure Constant as a Scaled Quantity
We report a new constraint on the variation of the fine-structure constant based on the analysis of 15 Si IV doublets selected from a ESO-UVES sample. We find \Delta\alpha/\alpha = (+0.15+/-0.43) x 10^-5 over a redshift range of 1.59< z <…
Light traveling through the vacuum interacts with vacuum fluctuations similarly to the way that light traveling through a dielectric interacts with ordinary matter. And just as the permittivity of a dielectric can be calculated, the…
One of the topical problems of contemporary physics is a possible variability of the fundamental constants. Here we consider possible variability of two dimensionless constants which are most important for calculation of atomic and…
If the fine structure constant $\alpha =e^2/(\hbar c)$ were to change, then a number of interpretations would be possible, attributing this change either to variations in the electron charge, the dielectric constant of the vacuum, the speed…
The existing observational data on possible variations of fundamental physical constants (FPC) confirm more or less confidently only a variability of the fine structure constant $\alpha$ in space and time. A model construction method is…
We show that the coupling constant of a quantum-induced composite field is scale invariant due to its compositeness condition. It is first demonstrated in next-to-leading order in 1/N in typical models, and then we argue that it holds…
Recent measurements of a peak in the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background appear to suggest that geometry of the universe is close to being flat. But if other accepted indicators of cosmological parameters are also…
A general model for the cosmological evolution of the fine structure constant \alpha driven by a typical Quintessence scenario is presented. We consider a coupling between the Quintessence scalar \phi and the electromagnetic kinetic term…
The fine structure constant $\alpha $ includes the speed of light as given by $\alpha =\frac{e^{2}}{4\pi \epsilon_{0}c\hbar}$. It is shown here that, following a $TH\epsilon \mu $ formalism, interpreting the permittivity $\epsilon_{0}$ and…
Inspired by recent claims for a varying fine structure constant, alpha, we investigate the effect of ``promoting coupling constants to variables'' upon various parameters of the standard model. We first consider a toy model: Proca's theory…
The laws of physics have a set of fundamental constants, and it is generally admitted that only dimensionless combinations of constants have physical significance. These combinations include the electromagnetic and gravitational fine…
Searching for variations of nature's fundamental constants is a crucial step in our quest to go beyond our current standard model of fundamental physics. If they exist, such variations will be very likely driven by the existence of a new…
Configuration interaction in many-electron atoms may cause anomalies in the fine structure which make the intervals small and very sensitive to variation of the fine structure constant. Repeated precision measurements of these intervals…
The values of the fundamental constants such as $\mu = m_P/m_e$, the proton to electron mass ratio and $\alpha$, the fine structure constant, are sensitive to the product $\sqrt{\zeta_x^2(w+1)}$ where $\zeta_x$ is a coupling constant…
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 re-consider the quantum mechanics of scale invariant potentials in two dimensions. The breaking of scale invariance by quantum effects is analyzed by the explicit evaluation of the phase shift and the self-adjoint extension method. We…
Cosmological dark energy is a natural source of variation of the fine structure constant. Using a model-independent approach we show that once general assumptions about the alpha-varying interactions are made, astronomical probes of its…
A high precision determination of the strong coupling constant in the MS-bar scheme at the Z-mass scale, using low energy quantities, namely pion/kaon decay constants and masses, as experimental input is presented. The computation employs…
We investigate the cosmological consequences of a simple theory in which the electric charge $e$ is allowed to vary. The theory is locally gauge and Lorentz invariant, and satisfies general covariance. We find that in this theory the fine…
We consider scaling of the entanglement entropy across a topological quantum phase transition in one dimension. The change of the topology manifests itself in a sub-leading term, which scales as $L^{-1/\alpha}$ with the size of the…