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Title: Effect of {alpha} variation on a prospective experiment to detect variation of m{sub e}/m{sub p} in diatomic molecules

Abstract

We consider the influence of variation in the fine structure constant {alpha} on a promising experiment proposed by DeMille et al. to search for variation in the electron-to-proton mass ratio {mu} using diatomic molecules [DeMille et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 043202 (2008)]. The proposed experiment involves spectroscopically probing the splitting between two nearly degenerate vibrational levels supported by different electronic potentials. Here we demonstrate that this splitting may be equally or more sensitive to variation in {alpha} as to variation in {mu}. For the anticipated experimental precision, this implies that the {alpha} variation may not be negligible, as previously assumed, and further suggests that the method could serve as a competitive means to search for {alpha} variation as well.

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [1]
  1. Centre for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University, Auckland 0745 (New Zealand)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22080333
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. A
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 84; Journal Issue: 4; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ACCURACY; ELECTRONS; FINE STRUCTURE; MASS; MOLECULES; POTENTIALS; PROTONS

Citation Formats

Beloy, K, Borschevsky, A, Schwerdtfeger, P, Flambaum, V V, and School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052. Effect of {alpha} variation on a prospective experiment to detect variation of m{sub e}/m{sub p} in diatomic molecules. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.042117.
Beloy, K, Borschevsky, A, Schwerdtfeger, P, Flambaum, V V, & School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052. Effect of {alpha} variation on a prospective experiment to detect variation of m{sub e}/m{sub p} in diatomic molecules. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.042117
Beloy, K, Borschevsky, A, Schwerdtfeger, P, Flambaum, V V, and School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052. 2011. "Effect of {alpha} variation on a prospective experiment to detect variation of m{sub e}/m{sub p} in diatomic molecules". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.042117.
@article{osti_22080333,
title = {Effect of {alpha} variation on a prospective experiment to detect variation of m{sub e}/m{sub p} in diatomic molecules},
author = {Beloy, K and Borschevsky, A and Schwerdtfeger, P and Flambaum, V V and School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052},
abstractNote = {We consider the influence of variation in the fine structure constant {alpha} on a promising experiment proposed by DeMille et al. to search for variation in the electron-to-proton mass ratio {mu} using diatomic molecules [DeMille et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 043202 (2008)]. The proposed experiment involves spectroscopically probing the splitting between two nearly degenerate vibrational levels supported by different electronic potentials. Here we demonstrate that this splitting may be equally or more sensitive to variation in {alpha} as to variation in {mu}. For the anticipated experimental precision, this implies that the {alpha} variation may not be negligible, as previously assumed, and further suggests that the method could serve as a competitive means to search for {alpha} variation as well.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.042117},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22080333}, journal = {Physical Review. A},
issn = {1050-2947},
number = 4,
volume = 84,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}