Related papers: Limits on the Variability of Physical Constants
The strongest transitions of Zn and CrII are the most sensitive to relative variations in the fine-structure constant ($\Delta\alpha/\alpha$) among the transitions commonly observed in quasar absorption spectra. They also lie within just…
We study the observed small deviations of high-redshift absorption spectra that are interpreted as a possible evidence for a variable fine structure constant. On the contrary, we claim that the effect could be completely attributed to the…
In their Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 121302 (2004)] (also [Astron. Astrophys. 417, 853 (2004)]), Srianand et al. analysed optical spectra of heavy-element species in 23 absorption systems along background quasar sight-lines, reporting…
Detecting any evolution of dimensionless in the ratios of physical quantities, such as the fine structure constant, would prove that the Weak Equivalence Principle is violated and lead to a paradigm shift in physics. High resolution…
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…
The comparison of different atomic transition frequencies over time can be used to determine the present value of the temporal derivative of the fine structure constant alpha in a model-independent way without assumptions on constancy or…
Absorption line systems detected in quasar spectra can be used to compare the value of the fine-structure constant, {\alpha}, measured today on Earth with its value in distant galaxies. In recent years, some evidence has emerged of small…
We review properties of theories for the variation of the gravitation and fine structure 'constants'. We highlight some general features of the cosmological models that exist in these theories with reference to recent quasar data that are…
We describe a new technique to measure variations in the fundamental parameters $\alpha$ and $y \equiv m_e/m_p$, using the sum of the frequencies of cm-wave OH ``main'' lines. The technique is $\sim$ three orders of magnitude more sensitive…
Comparison of quasar absorption line spectra with laboratory spectra provides a precise probe for variability of the fine structure constant, alpha, over cosmological time-scales. We constrain variation in alpha in 21 Keck/HIRES Si IV…
We have obtained high signal:to:noise optical spectroscopy at 5\AA\ resolution of 27 quasars from the APM z$>$4 quasar survey. The spectra have been analyzed to create new samples of high redshift Lyman-limit and damped Lyman-$\alpha$…
We present a detailed analysis of a high resolution spectrum of the damped Ly$\alpha$ system at $z_{\rm abs}$~=~2.8112toward PKS~0528-250. The absorption redshift is slightly larger than the emission redshift of the quasar. We estimate the…
Theories unifying gravity and other interactions suggest the possibility of spatial and temporal variation of physical ``constants'' in the Universe. Detection of high redshift absorption systems intersecting the sight lines towards distant…
We have searched for redshifted absorption in the 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen toward `red quasars', which are extragalactic radio sources with a steep spectral drop between optical and infrared wavelengths. The success rate for detecting…
We report unbiased AI measurements of the fine structure constant $\alpha$ in two proximate absorption regions in the spectrum of the quasar HE0515$-$4414. The data are high resolution, high signal to noise, and laser frequency comb…
We have measured the 2D 2-point correlation function, Xi_AG, between low column density Ly-alpha absorbers and galaxies at a redshift z ~ 1. We measured Ly-alpha absorbers between redshifts z=0.68 to 1.51 over a total redshift path length…
Observations of the redshift z=7.085 quasar J1120+0641 have been used to search for variations of the fine structure constant, alpha, over the redshift range 5.5 to 7.1. Observations at z=7.1 probe the physics of the universe when it was…
Absorption lines of H$_2$ and HD molecules observed at high redshift in the line of sight towards quasars are a test ground to search for variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio $\mu$. For this purpose, results from astronomical…
The fine structure constant, $\alpha$, sets the strength of the electromagnetic force. The Standard Model of particle physics provides no explanation for its value, which could potentially vary. The wavelengths of stellar absorption lines…
The Ly-alpha absorption spectrum of the highest redshift quasars indicates that they are surrounded by giant HII regions, a few Mpc in size. The neutral gas around these HII regions should emit 21cm radiation in excess of the Cosmic…