An Updated Constraint on Variations of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Wavelengths of Fe II Absorption Line Multiplets

Abstract

A new stringent limit relating to the variation of the fine-structure constant (α= e2/4πε0ℏc) has been extracted from Ritz wavelengths of 27 quasi_stellar object (QSO) absorption spectra lines of Fe II. The calculation was combined with laboratory wavelengths and QSO spectra to obtain the result ∆α/α=(0.027±0.832)×10-6. This result suggests how dedicated astrophysical estimations can improve these limits in the future and can also constrain space_time variations.

New Limit on Space-Time Variations in the Proton-to-Electron Mass Ratio from Analysis of Quasar J110325-264515 Spectra

“…I obtained χ 2 -minimal for each one of the whole fits, and these were plotted as a general function of ∆µ/µ. The study concludes that the changing value of ∆µ/µ was below 10 −8 with a higher precision based on the standard statistical and systematic error deviation: σ 2 tot = σ 2 ∆µ/µ + σ 2 sys [22,58,60]. In this case, the present study provides an estimation of ∆µ/µ, an order magnitude better than previous studies using the same data [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72].…”

“…Based on high-resolution spectroscopic observations from the large redshifts (0.2 < z < 4.2) of quasars from Keck Observatory and Very Large Telescope, variations of α and µ have been predicted with high precision using the Many-Multiplet method [19], such as temporal [20] and spatial [21] variations. Moreover, these variations would be the result of orders of magnitude compared with previous methods, referring to a new method that was recently established and can be applied to wide-spanning redshifts for both emission and absorption spectra [22]. On the other hand, sensitive variation in µ over cosmological timescales can be found from a comparison of the wavelengths of molecular transitions detected in quasar spectra with their corresponding laboratory values, while others used the ratio of the chromodynamics-to-electroweak scale [23] and molecular absorption [24,25].…”

“…As in previous studies, a new method of searching for space-time variations of fundamental coupling constants over cosmological timescales was developed [22] and refs. therein.…”

Stringent limit on space-time variation of fine-structure constant using high-resolution of quasar spectra

“…A new approach was used to check spatial and temporal variations in the fine-structure constant over cosmological timescales. This method could estimate with high accuracy over a wide-range of reshifts and it is orders sensitive than the other methods [ 32 ]. This method includes -independent line ratios, and it was implemented by atomic/molecule spectra calculations using the many-body perturbation theory and the Fock-space coupled-cluster method.…”

“…Thus, the effect of space-time variations in could be observed by calculating the relativistic energy shifts of the atomic and molecular spectra from quasars and comparing it to the laboratory sample values. It allowed us to identify statistical and systematical errors with higher accuracy [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]. The best determined connection using this procedure inferred an alteration with the cosmological space-time of over redshift range: [ 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”