EG2 - Variation of Fundamental Constants |
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Speaker |
Kanekar, Nissim |
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Talk Title |
Probing fundamental constant evolution with radio spectroscopy |
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Abstract |
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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