Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium

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dc.creatorCingoz, A.
dc.creatorLapierre, A.
dc.creatorNguyen, A. -T.
dc.creatorLeefer, N.
dc.creatorBudker, D.
dc.creatorLamoreaux, S. K.
dc.creatorTorgerson, J. R.
dc.date2006-09-01
dc.date2006-11-09
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T10:42:58Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T10:42:58Z
dc.descriptionOver a period of eight months, we have monitored transition frequencies between nearly degenerate, opposite-parity levels in two isotopes of atomic dysprosium (Dy). These transition frequencies are highly sensitive to temporal variation of the fine-structure constant ($α$) due to relativistic corrections of large and opposite sign for the opposite-parity levels. In this unique system, in contrast to atomic-clock comparisons, the difference of the electronic energies of the opposite-parity levels can be monitored directly utilizing a radio-frequency (rf) electric-dipole transition between them. Our measurements show that the frequency variation of the 3.1-MHz transition in $^{163}$Dy and the 235-MHz transition in $^{162}$Dy are 9.0$\pm$6.7 Hz/yr and -0.6$\pm$6.5 Hz/yr, respectively. These results provide a value for the rate of fractional variation of $α$ of $(-2.7\pm2.6)\times 10^{-15}$ yr$^{-1}$ (1 $σ$) without any assumptions on the constancy of other fundamental constants, indicating absence of significant variation at the present level of sensitivity.
dc.description4 pages, 2 figures
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0609014
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0609014
dc.identifierPhys.Rev.Lett.98:040801,2007
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.040801
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/182136
dc.subjectAtomic Physics
dc.titleLimit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium
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