Limit on the temporal variation of the fine-structure constant using atomic dysprosium

被引:75
作者
Cingoz, A. [1 ]
Lapierre, A.
Nguyen, A. -T.
Leefer, N.
Budker, D.
Lamoreaux, S. K.
Torgerson, J. R.
机构
[1] Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Phys, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
[2] Los Alamos Natl Lab, Div Phys, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA
[3] Lawrence Berkeley Natl Lab, Div Nucl Sci, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.040801
中图分类号
O4 [物理学];
学科分类号
0702 ;
摘要
Over 8 months, we monitored transition frequencies between nearly degenerate, opposite-parity levels in two isotopes of atomic dysprosium (Dy). These frequencies are sensitive to variation of the fine-structure constant (alpha) due to relativistic corrections of 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 rf electric-dipole transition between them. Our measurements show that the frequency variation of the 3.1-MHz transition in Dy-163 and the 235-MHz transition in Dy-162 are 9.0 +/- 6.7 Hz/yr and -0.6 +/- 6.5 Hz/yr, respectively. These results provide a rate of fractional variation of alpha of (-2.7 +/- 2.6)x10(-15) yr(-1) (1 sigma) without assumptions on constancy of other fundamental constants, indicating absence of significant variation at the present level of sensitivity.
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页数:4
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