Further constraints on variation of the fine-structure constant from alkali-doublet QSO absorption lines

Comparison of quasar (QSO) absorption-line spectra with laboratory spectra provides a precise probe for variability of the fine-structure constant, α, over cosmological time-scales. We constrain variation in α in 21 Keck/HIRES Si-iv absorption systems using the alkali-doublet (AD) method in which ch...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2001-11, Vol.327 (4), p.1237-1243
Main Authors: Murphy, M.T., Webb, J.K., Flambaum, V.V., Prochaska, J.X., Wolfe, A.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
atomic data
line: profiles
quasars: absorption lines
techniques: spectroscopic
ultraviolet: general
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Summary:Comparison of quasar (QSO) absorption-line spectra with laboratory spectra provides a precise probe for variability of the fine-structure constant, α, over cosmological time-scales. We constrain variation in α in 21 Keck/HIRES Si-iv absorption systems using the alkali-doublet (AD) method in which changes in α are related to changes in the doublet spacing. The precision obtained with the AD method has been increased by a factor of 3: . We also analyse potential systematic errors in this result. Finally, we compare the AD method with the many-multiplet method, which has achieved an order of magnitude greater precision, and we discuss the future of the AD method.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04842.x