Variation of fundamental constants

In contrast to the search for exotic events with a low probability, one can try to learn new physics with the help of high accuracy. The most promising way now is likely to look for a variation of results due to different circumstances. One possibility is a variation of fundamental constants with time. Some of these comparisons can be done over an astronomical time [37]. 

Progress in precision studies and shortage of data on possible extension of the Standard Model of weak, electromagnetic and strong interactions have produced a situation where a number of experiments to search for so-called new physics have been performed or planned in atomic physics. Among such experiments are a search for an electric dipole moment of an electron and a neutron, search for variation of fundamental constants and violation of Lorentz invariance, etc. 

An example of such a problem is a relation of possible time or space variation of fundamental constants and a basic relativistic principle of local position/time invariance (LPI/LTI). Some scientists consider possible variation of constants as violation of LTI. However, that is not correct. 

M. Fischer, T.W. Hansch, Precision spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen and variations of fundamental constants, in Astrophysics, Clocks and Fundamental Constants. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol. 648 (Springer, Heidelberg, 2004)... 

Variation of Fundamental Constants as Revealed by Molecules Astrophysical Observations and Laboratory Experiments... 

An interesting case of the enhancement of the effect of the variation of fundamental constants arises in colhsions of ultracold atoms and molecules near Feshbach resonances [52]. The scattering length A near a resonance is extremely sensitive to the p-variation ... 

Flamhaum, V.V. andTedesco,A.F., Dependence of nuclear magnetic moments on quark masses and limits on temporal variation of fundamental constants from atomic clock experiments, Phys. Rev. C, 73,055501, 2006. 

Gould, C.R., Sharapov, E.I., and Lamoreaux, S.K., Time variability of a from realistic models of Oklo reactors, Phys. Rev. C, 74,024607, 2006 Petrov, Yu.V, Nazarov, A.I., Onegin, M.S., Petrov, VYu. and Sakhnovsky, E.G., Natural nuclear reactor at Oklo and variation of fundamental constants Computation of neutronics of a fresh core, Phys. Rev. C, 74,064610, 2006. 

Dzuba, V.A., Flambaum, V.V., and Webb, J.K., Calculations of the relativistic effects in many-electron atoms and space-time variation of fundamental constants, Phys. Rev. A, 59, 230, 1999 Space-time variation of physical constants and relativistic corrections in atoms, Phys. Rev. Lett., 82, 888, 1999. 

Marion, H. et al.. Search for variations of fundamental constants using atomic fountain clocks, Phys. Rev. Lett., 90,150801, 2003. 

Peik, E., Lipphardt, B., Schnatz, H., Tamm, Chr., Weyers, S., and Wynands, R., Laboratory limits on temporal variations of fundamental constants an update, arXiv physics/ 0611088. 

Karshenboim, S., Flambaum, V.V., and Peik, E., Atomic clocks and constraints on variation of fundamental constants, in Springer Handbook of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, Drake, G.W.F., Ed., Springer, Berlin, 2005, Ch. 30, p. 455 63 arXiv physics/0410074. 

Lea, S. N., Limits to time variation of fundamental constants from comparisons of atomic frequency standards, Rep. Prog. Phys., 70,1473, 2007. 

Chengalur, J.N. and Kanekar, N., Constraining the variation of fundamental constants... 

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