Re/Os constraint on the time-variability of the fine-structure constant

We argue that the accuracy by which the isochron parameters of the decay $^{187}{\rm Re}\to ^{187}{\rm Os}$ are determined by dating iron meteorites may not directly constrain the possible time-dependence of the decay rate and hence of the fine-structure constant $\alpha$. From this point of view, some of the attempts to analyze the Oklo constraint and the results of the QSO absorption lines are re-examined.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures; v2, revised top sentence on p.

Strategic Priorities of the State Policy of Stimulating the Industrial and Technological Ukraine National Economy Development on the Basis of Marketing in Order to Ensure Economic Security

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the strategic priorities of state policy to stimulate industrial and technological development of the national economy on the basis of marketing in order to ensure economic security. Investment attractiveness of the country, human capital development, favorable scientific and educational environment, scientific and technological progress, technological potential, high scientific intensity of industrial production, eco-innovation of the national economy, international partnerships and more are identified as the strategic priorities of economic growth. The model which defines strategic landmarks of the state economic safety strengthening as well as preconditions for creation of the systemic strategic decisions on the basis of marketing maintenance of industrial and technological development is offered. The presented model reflects the strategic priorities of increasing the competitiveness of the national economy in the global world by marketing support of industrial and technological development in terms of eight operational objectives of public policy: international, investment, environmental, industrial, innovative, technological, educational and scientific marketing. The relationship between the main goal of economic security and the operational goals of the strategy of marketing support of industrial and technological development of the national economy is substantiated. The substantiation was facilitated by the systematization of the components of strategic marketing in relation to the industrial and technological development of the national economy. It is determined that the strategic goal of state policy in the analyzed area should be to ensure the ability of the national economy to expand its self-reproduction by ensuring the effective operation of state, economic and social institutions in the direction of protection against external and internal threats. It is appropriate to build the operational goals of the national strategy in accordance with the provision of the appropriate level of components of the marketing support of industrial and technological development of the national economy

Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant Driven by Quintessence

There are indications from the study of quasar absorption spectra that the fine structure constant $\alpha$ may have been measurably smaller for redshifts $z>2.$ Analyses of other data ($^{149}$Sm fission rate for the Oklo natural reactor, variation of $^{187}$Re $\beta$-decay rate in meteorite studies, atomic clock measurements) which probe variations of $\alpha$ in the more recent past imply much smaller deviations from its present value. In this work we tie the variation of $\alpha$ to the evolution of the quintessence field proposed by Albrecht and Skordis, and show that agreement with all these data, as well as consistency with WMAP observations, can be achieved for a range of parameters. Some definite predictions follow for upcoming space missions searching for violations of the equivalence principle.Comment: Final version, to be published in Phys Rev

Varying constants, Gravitation and Cosmology

Fundamental constants are a cornerstone of our physical laws. Any constant varying in space and/or time would reflect the existence of an almost massless field that couples to matter. This will induce a violation of the universality of free fall. It is thus of utmost importance for our understanding of gravity and of the domain of validity of general relativity to test for their constancy. We thus detail the relations between the constants, the tests of the local position invariance and of the universality of free fall. We then review the main experimental and observational constraints that have been obtained from atomic clocks, the Oklo phenomenon, Solar system observations, meteorites dating, quasar absorption spectra, stellar physics, pulsar timing, the cosmic microwave background and big bang nucleosynthesis. At each step we describe the basics of each system, its dependence with respect to the constants, the known systematic effects and the most recent constraints that have been obtained. We then describe the main theoretical frameworks in which the low-energy constants may actually be varying and we focus on the unification mechanisms and the relations between the variation of different constants. To finish, we discuss the more speculative possibility of understanding their numerical values and the apparent fine-tuning that they confront us with.Comment: 145 pages, 10 figures, Review for Living Reviews in Relativit

Multidimensional Analysis and Forecasting the Relationship Between Indicators of Industrial-technological Development and the Level of Economic Security

A theoretical-applied model has been built for analyzing industrial-technological development directly within the system of economic security. A system of indicators has been constructed that are mutually agreed in the context of the analysis of the state of economic security and components of industrial-technological development (investment, International, environmental, educational, scientific, industrial, innovative, technological). Based on the system of indicators, analysis of variance in the industrial-technological development and level of economic security was carried out. The levels of correlation of indicators (high, medium, low) have been determined, based on which the interrelations of industrial-technological development and economic security were systematized. A graphic-analytical and regression procedure was used to define the correlation dependence of industrial-technological development on economic security. The industrial-technological development has been forecasted in terms of the indicators with high correlation (the level of investment, openness of the economy, export of high-tech products, industrial products index) and medium correlation (the share of renewable energy consumption, the level of expenditures on education to GDP, the share of specialists performing scientific and technical work). The system of indicators of economic security assessment has been expanded in terms of its individual components (investment-innovative, foreign economic, energy, social, macroeconomic security), taking into consideration aspects in the industrial-technological development. Using the reported analytical and predictive results makes it possible to establish groups of factors that influence the industrial-technological development and economic security. In this way, it becomes possible to identify those tools and means whose application could ensure an increase in the level of industrial-technological development and economic securit