ISSN:
1572-9672
Keywords:
Cosmology
;
Quasar Spectra
;
Physical Constants
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Gamow was one of the pioneers who studied the possible variability of fundamental physical constants. Some versions of modern Grand Unification theories do predict such variability. The paper is concerned with three of the constants: the fine-structure constant α, the ratio of the proton massm p to the electron massm e, and the ratio of the neutron massm n tom e. It is shown on the basis of the quasar spectra analysis, that all the three constants revealed no statistically significant variation over the last 90% of the life time of the Universe. At the 2δ significance level, the following upper bounds are obtained for the epoch corresponding to the cosmological redshiftsz∼2–3: Δα/α〈1.5×10−3, Δm p/m p〈2×10−3, and Δm/m〈3×10−4, where Δx is a possible deviation of a quantityx from its present value,m=m p+m n, and the nucleon masses are in units ofm e. (According to new observational data which became known most recently, Δm p/m p〈2×10−4) In addition a possible anisotropy of the high-redshift fine splitting over the celestial sphere is checked. Within the relative statistical error 3δ 〈 1% the values of α turned out to be the same in various quadrants of the celestial sphere, which corresponds to their equality in causally disconnected areas. However, at the 2δ level a tentative anisotropy of estimated Δα/α values is found in directions that approximately coincide with the direction of the relic microwave background anisotropy. The revealed constraints serve as criteria for selection of those theoretical models which predict variation of α,m p orm n with the cosmological time.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00751411
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