dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaLaboratory Limits on Temporal Variations of Fundamental Constants: An Update
| Authors | E. Peik, B. Lipphardt, H. Schnatz, Chr. Tamm, S. Weyers, R. Wynands |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0611088 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0611088 |
Abstract
Precision comparisons of different atomic frequency standards over a period of a few years can be used for a sensitive search for temporal variations of fundamental constants. We present recent frequency measurements of the 688 THz transition in the $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion. For this transition frequency a record over six years is now available, showing that a possible frequency drift relative to a cesium clock can be constrained to $(-0.54\pm0.97)$ Hz/yr, i.e. at the level of $2\cdot10^{-15}$ per year. Combined with precision frequency measurements of an optical frequency in $^{199}$Hg$^+$ and of the hyperfine ground state splitting in $^{87}$Rb a stringent limit on temporal variations of the fine structure constant $\alpha$: $d\ln\alpha /dt= (-0.26\pm0.39)\cdot 10^{-15} {\rm yr}^{-1}$ and a model-dependent limit for variations of the proton-to-electron mass ratio $\mu$ in the present epoch can be derived: $d \ln \mu/dt = (-1.2 \pm 2.2)\cdot 10^{-15} {\rm yr}^{-1}$. We discuss these results in the context of astrophysical observations that apparently indicate changes in both of these constants over the last 5--10 billion years.
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"abstract": "Precision comparisons of different atomic frequency standards over a period\nof a few years can be used for a sensitive search for temporal variations of\nfundamental constants. We present recent frequency measurements of the 688 THz\ntransition in the $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion. For this transition frequency a record\nover six years is now available, showing that a possible frequency drift\nrelative to a cesium clock can be constrained to $(-0.54\\pm0.97)$ Hz/yr, i.e.\nat the level of $2\\cdot10^{-15}$ per year. Combined with precision frequency\nmeasurements of an optical frequency in $^{199}$Hg$^+$ and of the hyperfine\nground state splitting in $^{87}$Rb a stringent limit on temporal variations of\nthe fine structure constant $\\alpha$: $d\\ln\\alpha /dt= (-0.26\\pm0.39)\\cdot\n10^{-15} {\\rm yr}^{-1}$ and a model-dependent limit for variations of the\nproton-to-electron mass ratio $\\mu$ in the present epoch can be derived: $d \\ln\n\\mu/dt = (-1.2 \\pm 2.2)\\cdot 10^{-15} {\\rm yr}^{-1}$. We discuss these results\nin the context of astrophysical observations that apparently indicate changes\nin both of these constants over the last 5--10 billion years.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0611088",
"authors": [
"E. Peik",
"B. Lipphardt",
"H. Schnatz",
"Chr. Tamm",
"S. Weyers",
"R. Wynands"
],
"categories": [
"physics.atom-ph",
"physics.gen-ph"
],
"title": "Laboratory Limits on Temporal Variations of Fundamental Constants: An Update",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0611088"
},
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