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Register a new userFundamental constants and high resolution spectroscopy
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Added by
Piercarlo Bonifacio
Publication date
2013
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
Authors
P. Bonifacio
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Absorption-line systems detected in high resolution quasar spectra can be used to compare the value of dimensionless fundamental constants such as the fine-structure constant, alpha, and the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu = m_p/m_e, as measured in remote regions of the Universe to their value today on Earth. In recent years, some evidence has emerged of small temporal and also spatial variations in alpha on cosmological scales which may reach a fractional level of 10 ppm . We are conducting a Large Programme of observations with VLT UVES to explore these variations. We here provide a general overview of the Large Programme and report on the first results for these two constants, discussed in detail in Molaro et al. and Rahmani et al. A stringent bound for Delta(alpha)/Alpha is obtained for the absorber at_abs = 1.6919 towards HE 2217-2818. The absorption profile is complex with several very narrow features, and is modeled with 32 velocity components. The relative variation in alpha in this system is +1.3+-2.4_{stat}+-1.0_{sys} ppm if Al II lambda 1670AA and three Fe II transitions are used, and +1.1+-2.6_{stat} ppm in a lightly different analysis with only Fe II transitions used. The expectation at this sky position of the recently-reported dipolar variation of alpha is (3.2--5.4)+-1.7 ppm depending on dipole model. This constraint of Delta(alpha)/alpha at face value is not supporting this expectation but is not inconsistent with it at the 3 sigma level. For the proton-to-electron mass ratio the analysis of the H_2 absorption lines of the z_{abs}~2.4018 damped Ly alpha system towards HE 0027- 1836 provides Delta(mu)/mu = (-7.6 +- 8.1_{stat} +- 6.3_{sys}) ppm which is also consistent with a null variation. (abridged)
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We use the three-scale framework of Hu et al. to show how the Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy spectrum depends on the fundamental constants. As expected, the spectrum depends only on emph{dimensionless} combinations of the constants, and we emphasize the points that make this generally true for cosmological observables. Our analysis suggests that the CMB spectrum shape is mostly determined by $alpha^2m_e/m_p$ and the proton-CDM-particle mass ratio, $m_p/mchi$. The distance to the last-scattering surface depends on $Gm_pmchi/hbar c$, so published CMB observational limits on time variations of the constants implicitly assume the time-independence of this quantity, as well as assuming a flat-lcdm~cosmological model. On the other hand, low-redshift BAO, $H_0$ and baryon-mass-fraction measurements can be combined with the emph{shape} of the CMB spectrum to give information that is largely independent of these assumptions. In particular we show that the pre-recombination values of $Gmchi^2/hbar c$, $m_p/mchi$ and $alpha^2m_e/m_p$ are equal to their present values at a precision of $sim15%$.
The values of the fundamental constants such as $mu = m_P/m_e$, the proton to electron mass ratio and $alpha$, the fine structure constant, are sensitive to the product $sqrt{zeta_x^2(w+1)}$ where $zeta_x$ is a coupling constant between a rolling scalar field responsible for the acceleration of the expansion of the universe and the electromagnetic field with x standing for either $mu$ or $alpha$. The dark energy equation of state $w$ can assume values different than $-1$ in cosmologies where the acceleration of the expansion is due to a scalar field. In this case the value of both $mu$ and $alpha$ changes with time. The values of the fundamental constants, therefore, monitor the equation of state and are a valuable tool for determining $w$ as a function of redshift. In fact the rolling of the fundamental constants is one of the few definitive discriminators between acceleration due to a cosmological constant and acceleration due to a quintessence rolling scalar field. $w$ is often given in parameterized form for comparison with observations. In this manuscript the predicted evolution of $mu$, is calculated for a range of parameterized equation of state models and compared to the observational constraints on $Delta mu / mu$. We find that the current limits on $Delta mu / mu$ place significant constraints on linear equation of state models and on thawing models where $w$ deviates from $-1$ at late times. They also constrain non-dynamical models that have a constant $w$ not equal to $-1$. These constraints are an important compliment to geometric tests of $w$ in that geometric tests are sensitive to the evolution of the universe before the epoch of observation while fundamental constants are sensitive to the evolution of the universe after the observational epoch. Abstract truncated.
The observed constraints on the variability of the proton to electron mass ratio $mu$ and the fine structure constant $alpha$ are used to establish constraints on the variability of the Quantum Chromodynamic Scale and a combination of the Higgs Vacuum Expectation Value and the Yukawa couplings. Further model dependent assumptions provide constraints on the Higgs VEV and the Yukawa couplings separately. A primary conclusion is that limits on the variability of dimensionless fundamental constants such as $mu$ and $alpha$ provide important constraints on the parameter space of new physics and cosmologies.
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 with time. The dimesionless fundamental constants, such as the proton to electron mass ratio and the fine structure constant are key elements in the investigation. If they vary with time then the answer is clearly that the laws of physics are not invariant with time and significant new physics must be developed to describe the universe. Limits on their variance, on the other hand, constrains the parameter space available to new physics that requires a variation with time of basic physical law. There are now observational constraints on the time variation of the proton to electron mass ratio mu at the 1.E-7 level. Constraints on the variation of the fine structure constant alpha are less rigorous, 1E-5, but are imposed at higher redshift. The implications of these limits on new cosmologies that require rolling scalar fields has already had its first investigations. Here we address the implications on basic particle physics. The proton to electron mass ratio is obviously dependent on the particle physics parameters that set the mass of the proton and the electron. To first order the ratio is dependent on a combination of the Quantum Chromodynamic scale, the Yukawa couplings, and the Higgs Vacuum Expectation Value. Here that relationship is quantitative defined for the first time. When coupled with previous determinations of the relation of the fine structure constant to the same parameters two constraints exist on the fractional variation of these parameters with time. A third independent constraint involving only the three parameters could set the stage for constraints on their individual fractional variation.
Many cosmological models invoke rolling scalar fields to account for the observed acceleration of the expansion of the universe. These theories generally include a potential V(phi) which is a function of the scalar field phi. Although V(phi) can be represented by a very diverse set of functions, recent work has shown the under some conditions, such as the slow roll conditions, the equation of state parameter w is either independent of the form of V(phi) or is part of family of solutions with only a few parameters. In realistic models of this type the scalar field couples to other sectors of the model leading to possibly observable changes in the fundamental constants such as the fine structure constant alpha and the proton to electron mass ratio mu. This paper explores the limits this puts on the validity of various cosmologies that invoke rolling scalar fields. We find that the limit on the variation of mu puts significant constraints on the product of a cosmological parameter w+1 times a new physics parameter zeta_mu^2, the coupling constant between mu and the rolling scalar field. Even when the cosmologies are restricted to very slow roll conditions either the value of zeta_mu must be at the lower end of or less than its expected values or the value of w+1 must be restricted to values vanishingly close to 0. This implies that either the rolling scalar field is very weakly coupled with the electromagnetic field, small zeta_mu, very weakly coupled with gravity, w+1 ~ 0 or both. These results stress that adherence to the measured invariance in mu is a very significant test of the validity of any proposed cosmology and any new physics it requires. The limits on the variation of mu also produces a significant tension with the reported changes in the value of alpha.
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