MG12 - Talk detail
 

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 Participant 

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Abstract

Probing fundamental constant evolution with radio spectroscopy

Astrophysical studies of redshifted spectral lines provide a powerful probe of changes in low-energy fundamental constants over a large lookback time. I will describe a new radio technique to measure changes in the fine structure constant, the proton-electron mass ratio and the proton gyromagnetic ratio, using ``conjugate'' satellite OH 18cm lines, which is far less susceptible to systematic effects than other methods. I will also report recent results from radio studies of fundamental constant evolution, based on three techniques: (1) ``conjugate'' satellite OH 18cm lines, (2) comparisons between OH 18cm and HI 21cm redshifts, and (3) comparisons between NH3 (inversion) and rotational redshifts. Finally, I will discuss the likely improvements to such studies with the advent of new telescopes over the next decade.

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