Testing cosmological variability of the proton-to-electron mass ratio using the spectrum of PKS 0528-250

Alexander Y. Potekhin; Alexander V. Ivanchik; Dmitry A. Varshalovich; Kenneth M. Lanzetta; Jack A. Baldwin; Gerard M. Williger; R. F. Carswell

doi:10.1086/306211

Testing cosmological variability of the proton-to-electron mass ratio using the spectrum of PKS 0528-250

Alexander Y. Potekhin
, Alexander V. Ivanchik
, Dmitry A. Varshalovich
, Kenneth M. Lanzetta
, Jack A. Baldwin
, Gerard M. Williger
, R. F. Carswell

Physics and Astronomy

Ioffe Physical Technical Institute
Stony Brook University
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
University of Cambridge

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 manifest themselves as changes of the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ = m_p/m_e over the period of ∼10¹⁰ yr since the moment of formation of high-redshift QSO spectra. Here we analyze a new high-resolution spectrum of the z = 2.81080 molecular hydrogen absorption system toward the QSO PKS 0528-250 to derive a new observational constraint to the time-averaged variation rate of the proton-to-electron mass ratio. We find |μ/μ| < 1.5 × 10^-14 yr^-1, which is much tighter than previously measured limits.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	523-528
Number of pages	6
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	505
Issue number	2 PART I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/306211
State	Published - 1998

Keywords

Atomic data
Cosmology: observations
Elementary particles
Quasars: absorption lines
Quasars: individual (PKS 0528-250)

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10.1086/306211

Cite this

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title = "Testing cosmological variability of the proton-to-electron mass ratio using the spectrum of PKS 0528-250",

abstract = "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 manifest themselves as changes of the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ = mp/me over the period of ∼1010 yr since the moment of formation of high-redshift QSO spectra. Here we analyze a new high-resolution spectrum of the z = 2.81080 molecular hydrogen absorption system toward the QSO PKS 0528-250 to derive a new observational constraint to the time-averaged variation rate of the proton-to-electron mass ratio. We find |μ/μ| < 1.5 × 10-14 yr-1, which is much tighter than previously measured limits.",

keywords = "Atomic data, Cosmology: observations, Elementary particles, Quasars: absorption lines, Quasars: individual (PKS 0528-250)",

author = "Potekhin, \{Alexander Y.\} and Ivanchik, \{Alexander V.\} and Varshalovich, \{Dmitry A.\} and Lanzetta, \{Kenneth M.\} and Baldwin, \{Jack A.\} and Williger, \{Gerard M.\} and Carswell, \{R. F.\}",

year = "1998",

doi = "10.1086/306211",

language = "English",

volume = "505",

pages = "523--528",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

number = "2 PART I",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Testing cosmological variability of the proton-to-electron mass ratio using the spectrum of PKS 0528-250

AU - Potekhin, Alexander Y.

AU - Ivanchik, Alexander V.

AU - Varshalovich, Dmitry A.

AU - Lanzetta, Kenneth M.

AU - Baldwin, Jack A.

AU - Williger, Gerard M.

AU - Carswell, R. F.

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

N2 - 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 manifest themselves as changes of the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ = mp/me over the period of ∼1010 yr since the moment of formation of high-redshift QSO spectra. Here we analyze a new high-resolution spectrum of the z = 2.81080 molecular hydrogen absorption system toward the QSO PKS 0528-250 to derive a new observational constraint to the time-averaged variation rate of the proton-to-electron mass ratio. We find |μ/μ| < 1.5 × 10-14 yr-1, which is much tighter than previously measured limits.

AB - 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 manifest themselves as changes of the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ = mp/me over the period of ∼1010 yr since the moment of formation of high-redshift QSO spectra. Here we analyze a new high-resolution spectrum of the z = 2.81080 molecular hydrogen absorption system toward the QSO PKS 0528-250 to derive a new observational constraint to the time-averaged variation rate of the proton-to-electron mass ratio. We find |μ/μ| < 1.5 × 10-14 yr-1, which is much tighter than previously measured limits.

KW - Atomic data

KW - Cosmology: observations

KW - Elementary particles

KW - Quasars: absorption lines

KW - Quasars: individual (PKS 0528-250)

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/33645570273

U2 - 10.1086/306211

DO - 10.1086/306211

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:33645570273

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 505

SP - 523

EP - 528

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 PART I

ER -

Testing cosmological variability of the proton-to-electron mass ratio using the spectrum of PKS 0528-250

Abstract

Keywords

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