Limits on the Dependence of the Fine-Structure Constant on Gravitational Potential from White-Dwarf Spectra

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

来源：Physical Review Letters, 2013, 111(1): 010801.

DOI：10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.010801

We propose a new probe of the dependence of the fine-structure constant alpha 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 Delta alpha/alpha = (4.2 +/- 1.6) x 10(-5) and (-6.1 +/- 5.8) x 10(-5) from FeV and NiV spectra, respectively, at a dimensionless gravitational potential relative to Earth of Delta phi approximate to 5 x 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.

• 出版日期2013-7-3