Limit on the Cosmological Variation of m{sub p}/m{sub e} from the Inversion Spectrum of Ammonia

Journal Article · Fri Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.240801· OSTI ID:20953278

Flambaum, V V ^[1]; Kozlov, M G ^[2]

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1. School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052 (Australia)
2. Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, 188300 (Russian Federation)

We obtain the limit on the space-time variation of the ratio of the proton mass to the electron mass, {mu}=m{sub p}/m{sub e}, based on comparison of quasar absorption spectra of NH{sub 3} with CO, HCO{sup +} and HCN rotational spectra. For the inversion transition in NH{sub 3} ({lambda}{approx_equal}1.25 cm{sup -1}) the relative frequency shift is significantly enhanced: {delta}{omega}/{omega}=-4.46{delta}{mu}/{mu}. This enhancement allows one to increase sensitivity to the variation of {mu} using NH{sub 3} spectra for high redshift objects. We use published data on microwave spectra of the object B0218+357 to place the limit {delta}{mu}/{mu}=(0.6{+-}1.9)x10{sup -6} at redshift z=0.6847; this limit is several times better than the limits obtained by different methods and may be significantly improved. Assuming linear time dependence we obtain {mu}/{mu}=(-1{+-}3)x10{sup -16} yr{sup -1}.

• OSTI ID: 20953278
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
AMMONIA
CARBON MONOXIDE
ELECTRONS
HYDROCYANIC ACID
MICROWAVE SPECTRA
PROTONS
QUASARS
SENSITIVITY
SPACE-TIME
TIME DEPENDENCE