New limits on coupling of fundamental constants to gravity using 87Sr optical lattice clocks

The 1S0-3P0 clock transition frequency nuSr in neutral 87Sr has been measured relative to the Cs standard by three independent laboratories in Boulder, Paris, and Tokyo over the last three years. The agreement on the 1 x 10(-15) level makes nuSr the best agreed-upon optical atomic frequency. We combine periodic variations in the 87Sr clock frequency with 199Hg+ and H-maser data to test local position invariance by obtaining the strongest limits to date on gravitational-coupling coefficients for the fine-structure constant alpha, electron-proton mass ratio mu, and light quark mass. Furthermore, after 199Hg+, 171Yb+, and H, we add 87Sr as the fourth optical atomic clock species to enhance constraints on yearly drifts of alpha and mu.     

New limits on fundamental weak-interaction parameters from superallowed beta decay

A new survey of all world data on superallowed beta decays provides demanding tests of, and tight constraints on, the weak interaction. In confirmation of the conserved vector current hypothesis, the vector coupling constant G(V) is demonstrated to be constant to better than three parts in 10(4), and any induced scalar current is limited to f(S)相似文献   

基本物理常数概述及牛顿引力常数的测量

据不完全统计,基本物理常数有160余个之多,覆盖物理学各个领域。自国际科学技术数据委员会(CODATA)1973年首次发表国际推荐值以来,至今已发表了6次推荐值。文章介绍了基本物理常数的分类以及近期发表的基本物理常数领域的主要成就。这些成就及新的突破对物理学和计量学具有重要的意义。牛顿引力常数是测量万有引力的重要常数,具有深远的意义,但其数值极小,因此测量难度很大;二百余年来,科学家精益求精,不断更新方法,以求减小其测量的不确定度。     

The stability of fundamental constants

The tests of the constancy of fundamental constants are tests of the local position invariance and thus of the equivalence principle, at the heart of general relativity. After summarising the links between fundamental constants, gravity, cosmology and metrology, a brief overview of the observational and experimental constraints on their variation is proposed.     

Black hole constraints on varying fundamental constants

We apply the generalized second law of thermodynamics and derive upper limits on the variation in the fundamental constants. The maximum variation in the electronic charge permitted for black holes accreting and emitting in the present cosmic microwave background corresponds to a variation in the fine-structure constant of Deltaalpha/alpha approximately 2 x 10(-23) per second. This value matches the variation measured by Webb et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 884 (1999); Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 091301 (2001)] using absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars and suggests the variation mechanism may be a coupling between the electron and the cosmic photon background.     

Improved spectroscopic constants for the NO fundamental

A power series in the rotational index m has been fitted to the two fundamental $\text{(}{}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{?}{}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{and}{}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{?}{}^2\text{Π}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}$ bands of nitric oxide and improved effective values of the spectroscopic constants B, D and H were obtained.     

A probability law for the fundamental constants

If all the fundamental constants x of physics were expressed in one set of units (e.g., mks) and then used as pure numbers in one overall histogram, what shape would that histogram have? Based on some invariances that the law should reasonably obey, we show that it should have either an x^?1 or an x^?2 dependence. Empirical evidence consisting of the presently known constants is consistent with an x^?1 law. This is independent of the system of units chosen for the constants. The existence of the law suggests that the fundamental constants may have been independently and randomly chosen, at creation, from it, and hence that at the next “big bang” randomly a different set will be produced. Also, because of the law, the number 1.0 has an interesting cosmological property: it is the theoretical median of all the fundamental constants. Finally, as a practical matter, the law predicts that current methods of evaluating the fundamental constants are biased toward overly large numbers. A correction term is given for each of three kinds of noise.     

Adjusted recommended values of the fundamental physical constants

A brief overview of the CODATA-2006 adjustment (P.J. Mohr, B.N. Taylor, and D.B. Newell, CODATA Recommended values of the fundamental physical constants: 2006, Rev. Mod. Phys. 80, (2008) 633) is presented. The attention is focussed on the most important data that appeared since the previous adjustment in 2002, and on changes in the recommended values of 2006 in comparison with the results of 2002. We consider a structure of the input data and their correlations and analyze the results and the data group by group. We also discuss consequences of the adjustment.     

On the origin of gauge symmetries and fundamental constants

A statistical mechanism is proposed for symmetrization of an extra space. The conditions and rate of attainment of a symmetric configuration and, as a consequence, the appearance of gauge invariance in low-energy physics is discussed. It is shown that, under some conditions, this situation occurs only after completion of the inflationary stage. The dependences of the constants ℏ and G on the geometry of the extra space and the initial parameters of the Lagrangian of the gravitational field with higher derivatives are analyzed.     

New limits on dark matter from Super-Kamiokande

The signals observed at the direct detection experiments DAMA, CoGeNT and CRESST could be explained by light WIMPs with sizeable spin-independent cross sections with nucleons. The capture and subsequent annihilation of such particles in the Sun would induce neutrino signals in the GeV range which may be observed at Super-Kamiokande. We determine the rate of upward stopping muons and fully contained events at Super-Kamiokande for various possible WIMP annihilation channels. This allows us to provide strong constraints on the cross section of WIMPs with nucleons. We find that the DAMA and CoGeNT signals are inconsistent with standard thermal WIMPs annihilating dominantly into neutrino or tau pairs. We also provide limits for spin-dependent WIMP nucleus scattering for masses up to 80 GeV. These exclude the DAMA favored region if WIMPs annihilate even subdominantly into neutrinos, taus, bottoms or charms.     

Constraints on changes in fundamental constants from a cosmologically distant OH absorber or emitter

We have detected the four 18 cm OH lines from the z approximaetely 0.765 gravitational lens toward PMN J0134-0931. The 1612 and 1720 MHz lines are in conjugate absorption and emission, providing a laboratory to test the evolution of fundamental constants over a large lookback time. We compare the HI and OH main line absorption redshifts of the different components in the z approximately 0.765 absorber and the z approximately 0.685 lens toward B0218 + 357 to place stringent constraints on changes in F triple-bond g(p)[alpha(2)/mu](1.57). We obtain [DeltaF/F] = (0.44 +/- 0.36(stat) +/- 1.0(sys)t) x 10(-5), consistent with no evolution over the redshift range 0 < z < or = 0.7. The measurements have a 2sigma sensitivity of [Deltaalpha/alpha] < 6.7 x 10(-6) or [Deltamu/mu] < 1.4 x 10(-5) to fractional changes in alpha and mu over a period of approximately 6.5 G yr, half the age of the Universe. These are among the most sensitive constraints on changes in mu.     

Limits on variations in fundamental constants from 21-cm and ultraviolet Quasar absorption lines

Quasar absorption spectra at 21-cm and UV rest wavelengths are used to estimate the time variation of x [triple-bond] alpha(2)g(p)mu, where alpha is the fine structure constant, g(p) the proton g factor, and m(e)/m(p) [triple-bond] mu the electron/proton mass ratio. Over a redshift range 0.24 < or = zeta(abs) < or = 2.04, (Deltax/x)(weighted)(total) = (1.17 +/- 1.01) x 10(-5). A linear fit gives x/x = (-1.43 +/- 1.27) x 10(-15) yr(-1). Two previous results on varying alpha yield the strong limits Deltamu/mu = (2.31 +/- 1.03) x 10(-5) and Deltamu/mu=(1.29 +/- 1.01) x10(-5). Our sample, 8 x larger than any previous, provides the first direct estimate of the intrinsic 21-cm and UV velocity differences 6 km s(-1).     

New measurements of G using the measurement standards laboratory torsion balance

This Letter presents the results of a series of measurements of the Newtonian gravitational constant G using the compensated torsion balance developed at the Measurement Standards Laboratory. Since our last published result using the torsion balance in the compensated mode of operation [Meas. Sci. Technol. 10, 439 (1999)]], several improvements have been made to reduce the uncertainty in the final result. The new measurements have used both stainless steel and copper large masses. The values of G for the two sets of masses are in good agreement. After combining all of the measurements we get a value of G=6.673 87(0.000 27) x 10(-11) m3 kg(-1) s(-2). This new value is 5 parts in 10(5) smaller than our previous published values.     

Heterodyne frequency measurements on the nitric oxide fundamental band

Heterodyne frequency measurements have been made on the fundamental band of nitric oxide from 1750 to 1931 cm⁻¹. Based on the analysis of these new measurements, minor changes are made in the band constants and an improved list of calculated energy levels for the v = 0 and v = 1 states is given.     

Limits to time variation of fundamental constants from comparisons of atomic frequency standards

Comparisons between frequency standards based on optical and microwave transitionsin atoms and ions currently provide the most stringent laboratory limitson present-day local variation of the fundamental constants.This paper discusses the sensitivity of these frequency standards to variation ofthe electromagnetic and strong interactions, summarises the constraints onvariation of these interactions which can be obtained from currently-available data, and discusses the magnitude of improvements in these limits which is anticipated fromexperiments currently underway.