Constraining variations in the fine-structure constant, quark masses and the strong interaction

@article{Murphy2003ConstrainingVI,
title={Constraining variations in the fine-structure constant, quark masses and the strong interaction},
author={Michael T. Murphy and Victor V. Flambaum and John K Webb and V. V. Dzuba and Jason Xavier Prochaska and Arthur M. Wolfe},
journal={Lecture Notes in Physics},
year={2003},
volume={648},
pages={131-150}
}
• Published 11 October 2003
• Physics
• Lecture Notes in Physics
We present evidence for variations in the fine-structure constant from Keck/HIRES spectra of 143 quasar absorption systems over the redshift range 0.2 1.8). Our most robust estimate is a weighted mean Δα/α = (-0.57 ′ 0.11) x 10 - 5 . We respond to recent criticisms of the many-multiplet method used to extract these constraints. The most important potential systematic error at low-z is the possibility of very different Mg heavy isotope abundances in the absorption clouds and laboratory: higher…
114 Citations
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