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

Abstract

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 {sup 163}Dy and the 235-MHz transition in {sup 162}Dy 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{sup -15} yr{sup -1} (1{sigma}) without assumptions on constancy of other fundamental constants, indicating absence of significant variation at the present level of sensitivity.

Authors:
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2];  [1];  [3]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-7300 (United States)
  2. Physics Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, P-23, MS-H803, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
  3. (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20861630
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; Journal Volume: 98; Journal Issue: 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.040801; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; CORRECTIONS; DYSPROSIUM; DYSPROSIUM 162; DYSPROSIUM 163; E1-TRANSITIONS; FINE STRUCTURE; FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS; MHZ RANGE; PARITY; RELATIVISTIC RANGE

Citation Formats

Cingoez, A., Lapierre, A., Leefer, N., Nguyen, A.-T., Lamoreaux, S. K., Torgerson, J. R., Budker, D., and Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720. Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.040801.
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Cingoez, A., Lapierre, A., Leefer, N., Nguyen, A.-T., Lamoreaux, S. K., Torgerson, J. R., Budker, D., & Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720. Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium. United States. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.040801.
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Cingoez, A., Lapierre, A., Leefer, N., Nguyen, A.-T., Lamoreaux, S. K., Torgerson, J. R., Budker, D., and Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720. Fri . "Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium". United States. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.040801.
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@article{osti_20861630,
title = {Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium},
author = {Cingoez, A. and Lapierre, A. and Leefer, N. and Nguyen, A.-T. and Lamoreaux, S. K. and Torgerson, J. R. and Budker, D. and Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720},
abstractNote = {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 {sup 163}Dy and the 235-MHz transition in {sup 162}Dy 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{sup -15} yr{sup -1} (1{sigma}) without assumptions on constancy of other fundamental constants, indicating absence of significant variation at the present level of sensitivity.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.040801},
journal = {Physical Review Letters},
number = 4,
volume = 98,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 26 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Fri Jan 26 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}
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Journal Article:
DOI:  10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.040801
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  • ; ; ; ... - Physical Review. A
    It has been proposed that the radio-frequency electric-dipole (E1) transition between two nearly degenerate opposite-parity states in atomic dysprosium should be highly sensitive to possible temporal variation of the fine-structure constant ({alpha}) [V. A. Dzuba, V. V. Flambaum, and J. K. Webb, Phys. Rev. A 59, 230 (1999)]. We analyze here an experimental realization of the proposed search in progress in our laboratory, which involves monitoring the E1 transition frequency over a period of time using direct frequency counting techniques. We estimate that a statistical sensitivity of |{alpha}/{alpha}|{approx}10{sup -18}/yr may be achieved and discuss possible systematic effects that may limitmore » such a measurement.« less

  • ; ; ; ... - AIP Conference Proceedings
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  • ; ; ; ... - Physical Review. A
    Radio-frequency E1 transitions between nearly degenerate, opposite-parity levels of atomic dysprosium (Dy) were monitored over an 8-month period to search for a variation in the fine-structure constant {alpha}. During this time period, data were taken at different points in the gravitational potential of the Sun. The data are fitted to the variation in the gravitational potential yielding a value of (-8.7{+-}6.6)x10{sup -6} for k{sub {alpha}}, the variation of {alpha} in a changing gravitational potential. This value gives the first laboratory limit independent of assumptions regarding other fundamental constants. In addition, our value of k{sub {alpha}} combined with other experimental constraintsmore » is used to extract the first limits on k{sub e} and k{sub q}. These coefficients characterize the variation of m{sub e}/m{sub p} and m{sub q}/m{sub p} in a changing gravitational potential, where m{sub e}, m{sub p}, and m{sub q} are electron, proton, and quark masses. The results are k{sub e}=(4.9{+-}3.9)x10{sup -5} and k{sub q}=(6.6{+-}5.2)x10{sup -5}. All these results indicate the absence of significant variation at the present level of sensitivity.« less

  • - Physical Review. A
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  • - Physical Review Letters
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