Related papers: Cosmological Constraints on a Dynamical Electron M…
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…
That the laws of physics are the same at all times and places throughout the Universe is one of the basic assumptions of physics. Astronomical observations provide the only means to test this basic assumption on cosmological time and…
We estimate the cosmological variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio \mu=m_p/m_e by measuring the wavelengths of molecular hydrogen transitions in the early universe. The analysis is performed using high spectral resolution…
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…
Astronomical observations have a unique ability to determine the laws of physics at distant times in the universe. They, therefore, have particular relevance in answering the basic question as to whether the laws of physics are invariant…
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…
We report new upper limits on any possible long-term time variation of the ratio of the electron to proton masses, $(m_e/m_p)$, the fine-structure constant, ($\alpha$), and the quantity $\alpha^2 g_p(m_e/m_p)$, where $g_p$ is the proton…
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…
Exotic cosmologies predict variability of the fundamental physical constants over the cosmic time. Using the VLT/UVES high resolution spectra of the quasar Q0347-3819 and unblended electronic - vibrational - rotational lines of the H2…
We present a strong constraint on variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu, over cosmological time scales using molecular hydrogen transitions in optical quasar spectra. Using high quality spectra of quasars Q0405-443, Q0347-383…
We derive strong observational limits on any possible large-scale spatial variation in the values of physical 'constants' whose space-time evolution is driven by a scalar field. The limits are imposed by the isotropy of the microwave…
We analyse the constraints obtained from new atomic clock data on the possible time variation of the fine structure `constant' and the electron-proton mass ratio and show how they are strengthened when the seasonal variation of Sun's…
Recent astrophysical observations of quasar absorption systems indicate that the fine structure constant $\alpha$ and the proton-electron mass ratio $\mu$ may have evolved through the history of the universe. Motivated by these…
The possible small variation downward by about $10^{-5}$, of the ratio of the proton mass to the electron mass, over cosmological time is related to the decrease with time of a small vacuum expectation value for a Goldstone-like…
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…
This article describes the various experimental bounds on the variation of the fundamental constants of nature. After a discussion on the role of fundamental constants, of their definition and link with metrology, the various constraints on…
In this thesis, we focus on the study of the variation of the electron mass $m_e$, and the fine structure constant $\alpha$, at different cosmic times. We analyze the details of the recombination physics, including helium recombination, in…
New PKS1830-211 radio frequency observations of methanol at a redshift of 0.88582 have established the most stringent limits on changes in the proton to electron mass ratio mu to date. The observations place the limit of (delta mu)/mu </=…
A limit on a possible cosmological variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio $\mu$ is derived from methanol (CH$_3$OH) absorption lines in the benchmark PKS1830$-$211 lensing galaxy at redshift $z = 0.89$ observed with the Effelsberg…
We analyse the constraints obtained from new atomic clock data on the possible time variation of the fine structure `constant' and the electron-proton mass ratio and show how they are strengthened when the seasonal variation of Sun's…