Limits on the dependence of the fine-structure constant on gravitational potential from white-dwarf spectra

J. C. Berengut; V. V. Flambaum; A. Ong; J. K. Webb; John D. Barrow; M. A. Barstow; S. P. Preval; J. B. Holberg

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.010801

Limits on the dependence of the fine-structure constant on gravitational potential from white-dwarf spectra

J. C. Berengut, V. V. Flambaum, A. Ong, J. K. Webb, John D. Barrow, M. A. Barstow, S. P. Preval, J. B. Holberg

Physics

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54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We propose a new probe of the dependence of the fine-structure constant α on a strong gravitational field using metal lines in the spectra of white-dwarf stars. Comparison of laboratory spectra with far-UV astronomical spectra from the white-dwarf star G191-B2B recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph gives limits of Δα/α=(4. 2±1.6)×10^-5 and (-6.1±5.8)×10^-5 from FeV and NiV spectra, respectively, at a dimensionless gravitational potential relative to Earth of Δp≈5×10^-5. With better determinations of the laboratory wavelengths of the lines employed these results could be improved by up to 2 orders of magnitude.

Original language	English
Article number	010801
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	111
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.010801
Publication status	Published - 3 Jul 2013

Keywords

fine structure constants
gravitational potential
Hubble space telescopes
imaging spectograph
metal line
orders of magnitude
strong gravitational fields
gravitation
stars

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10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.010801

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title = "Limits on the dependence of the fine-structure constant on gravitational potential from white-dwarf spectra",

abstract = "We propose a new probe of the dependence of the fine-structure constant α on a strong gravitational field using metal lines in the spectra of white-dwarf stars. Comparison of laboratory spectra with far-UV astronomical spectra from the white-dwarf star G191-B2B recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph gives limits of Δα/α=(4. 2±1.6)×10-5 and (-6.1±5.8)×10-5 from FeV and NiV spectra, respectively, at a dimensionless gravitational potential relative to Earth of Δp≈5×10-5. With better determinations of the laboratory wavelengths of the lines employed these results could be improved by up to 2 orders of magnitude. ",

keywords = "fine structure constants, gravitational potential, Hubble space telescopes, imaging spectograph, metal line, orders of magnitude, strong gravitational fields, gravitation, stars",

author = "Berengut, {J. C.} and Flambaum, {V. V.} and A. Ong and Webb, {J. K.} and Barrow, {John D.} and Barstow, {M. A.} and Preval, {S. P.} and Holberg, {J. B.}",

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doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.010801",

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AU - Berengut, J. C.

AU - Flambaum, V. V.

AU - Ong, A.

AU - Webb, J. K.

AU - Barrow, John D.

AU - Barstow, M. A.

AU - Preval, S. P.

AU - Holberg, J. B.

PY - 2013/7/3

Y1 - 2013/7/3

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AB - We propose a new probe of the dependence of the fine-structure constant α on a strong gravitational field using metal lines in the spectra of white-dwarf stars. Comparison of laboratory spectra with far-UV astronomical spectra from the white-dwarf star G191-B2B recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph gives limits of Δα/α=(4. 2±1.6)×10-5 and (-6.1±5.8)×10-5 from FeV and NiV spectra, respectively, at a dimensionless gravitational potential relative to Earth of Δp≈5×10-5. With better determinations of the laboratory wavelengths of the lines employed these results could be improved by up to 2 orders of magnitude.

KW - fine structure constants

KW - gravitational potential

KW - Hubble space telescopes

KW - imaging spectograph

KW - metal line

KW - orders of magnitude

KW - strong gravitational fields

KW - gravitation

KW - stars

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Limits on the dependence of the fine-structure constant on gravitational potential from white-dwarf spectra

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Keywords

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