A spherical lamellar grating interferometer for airborne astronomical observations of far infrared objects

A lamellar grating has been developed to be used for very far infrared observations on the airborne observatory. The design characteristics and performance during laboratory testing and initial observations of Jupiter at wavelengths between 50 and 500 microns are presented

Limits on the time variation of the electromagnetic fine-structure constant in the low energy limit from absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars

Most of the successful physical theories rely on the constancy of few fundamental quantities (such as the speed of light, $c$, the fine-structure constant, \alpha, the proton to electron mass ratio, \mu, etc), and constraining the possible time variations of these fundamental quantities is an important step toward a complete physical theory. Time variation of \alpha can be accurately probed using absorption lines seen in the spectra of distant quasars. Here, we present the results of a detailed many-multiplet analysis performed on a new sample of Mg II systems observed in high quality quasar spectra obtained using the Very Large Telescope. The weighted mean value of the variation in \alpha derived from our analysis over the redshift range 0.4<z<2.3 is \Delta\alpha/\alpha = (-0.06+/-0.06) x 10^{-5}. The median redshift of our sample (z=1.55) corresponds to a look-back time of 9.7 Gyr in the most favored cosmological model today. This gives a 3\sigma limit, -2.5 x 10^{-16} yr^-1 <(\Delta\alpha/\alpha\Delta t) <+1.2x10^{-16} yr^-1, for the time variation of \alpha, that forms the strongest constraint obtained based on high redshift quasar absorption line systems.Comment: uses revtex, 4 pages 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

The SN 1006 Remnant: Optical Proper Motions, Deep Imaging, Distance, and Brightness at Maximum

We report the first measurement of proper motions in the SN1006 remnant (G327.6+14.6) based entirely on digital images. CCD images from three epochs spanning a period of 11 years are used: 1987 from Las Campanas, and 1991 and 1998 from CTIO. Measuring the shift of delicate Balmer filaments along the northwest rim of the remnant, we obtain proper motions of 280 +/- 8 mas/yr along the entire length where the filaments are well defined, with little systematic variation along the filaments. We also report very deep Halpha imaging observations of the entire remnant that clearly show very faint emission surrounding almost the entire shell, as well as some diffuse emission regions in the (projected) interior. Combining the proper motion measurement with a recent measurement of the shock velocity based on spectra of the same filaments by Ghavamian et al. leads to a distance of 2.17 +/- 0.08 kpc to SN1006. Several lines of argument suggest that SN1006 was a Type Ia event, so the improved distance measurement can be combined with the peak luminosity for SNeIa, as determined for events in galaxies with Cepheid-based distances, to calculate the apparent brightness of the spectacular event that drew wide attention in the eleventh century. The result, V_max = -7.5 =/- 0.4, lies squarely in the middle of the wide range of estimates based on the historical observations.Comment: 13 pages, 3 tables, 5 figures. Uses AASTeX5.02 and emulateapj

A new constraint on cosmological variability of the proton-to-electron mass ratio

Exotic cosmologies predict variability of the fundamental physical constants over the cosmic time. Using the VLT/UVES high resolution spectra of the quasar Q0347-3819 and unblended electronic - vibrational - rotational lines of the H2 molecule identified at z = 3.025 we test possible changes in the proton - to - electron mass ratio mu_0 = m_p/m_e over the period of 11 Gyr. We obtained a new constraint on the time - averaged variation rate of mu_0 of |d mu /d t /mu_0| < 5 10^{-15} yr^{-1} (1 sigma c.l.). The estimated 1 sigma uncertainty interval of the |Delta mu/mu_0| ratio of about 0.004% implies that since the time when the H2 spectrum was formed at z = 3.025, mu_0 has not changed by more than a few thousands of a percent.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, a revised version accepted by MNRA

Possible Constraints on the Time Variation of the Fine Structure Constant from Cosmic Microwave Background Data

The formation of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) provides a very powerful probe of the early universe at the epoch of recombination. Specifically, it is possible to constrain the variation of fundamental physical constants in the early universe. We have calculated the effect of a varying electromagnetic coupling constant (\alpha) on the CMBR and find that new satellite experiments should provide a tight constraint on the value of \alpha at recombination which is complementary to existing constraints. An estimate of the obtainable precision is |\dot{\alpha}/\alpha| \leq 7 x 10^{-13} y^{-1} in a realistic experiment.Comment: 5 pages, 3 postscript figures, matches version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Search for varying constants of nature from astronomical observation of molecules

The status of searches for possible variation in the constants of nature from astronomical observation of molecules is reviewed, focusing on the dimensionless constant representing the proton-electron mass ratio $\mu=m_p/m_e$. The optical detection of H$_2$ and CO molecules with large ground-based telescopes (as the ESO-VLT and the Keck telescopes), as well as the detection of H$_2$ with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope is discussed in the context of varying constants, and in connection to different theoretical scenarios. Radio astronomy provides an alternative search strategy bearing the advantage that molecules as NH$_3$ (ammonia) and CH$_3$OH (methanol) can be used, which are much more sensitive to a varying $\mu$ than diatomic molecules. Current constraints are $|\Delta\mu/\mu| < 5 \times 10^{-6}$ for redshift $z=2.0-4.2$, corresponding to look-back times of 10-12.5 Gyrs, and $|\Delta\mu/\mu| < 1.5 \times 10^{-7}$ for $z=0.88$, corresponding to half the age of the Universe (both at 3$\sigma$ statistical significance). Existing bottlenecks and prospects for future improvement with novel instrumentation are discussed.Comment: Contribution to Workshop "High Performance Clocks in Space" at the International Space Science Institute, Bern 201

Quintessence and variation of the fine structure constant in the CMBR

We study dependence of the CMB temperature anisotropy spectrum on the value of the fine structure constant $\alpha$ and the equation of state of the dark energy component of the total density of the universe. We find that bounds imposed on the variation of $\alpha$ from the analysis of currently available CMB data sets can be significantly relaxed if one also allows for a change in the equation of state.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Several references added and a few minor typos corrected in the revised versio

Constraining fundamental constants of physics with quasar absorption line systems

We summarize the attempts by our group and others to derive constraints on variations of fundamental constants over cosmic time using quasar absorption lines. Most upper limits reside in the range 0.5-1.5x10-5 at the 3sigma level over a redshift range of approximately 0.5-2.5 for the fine-structure constant, alpha, the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu, and a combination of the proton gyromagnetic factor and the two previous constants, gp(alpha^2/mu)^nu, for only one claimed variation of alpha. It is therefore very important to perform new measurements to improve the sensitivity of the numerous methods to at least <0.1x10-5 which should be possible in the next few years. Future instrumentations on ELTs in the optical and/or ALMA, EVLA and SKA pathfinders in the radio will undoutedly boost this field by allowing to reach much better signal-to-noise ratios at higher spectral resolution and to perform measurements on molecules in the ISM of high redshift galaxies.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

The fundamental constants and their variation: observational status and theoretical motivations

This article describes the various experimental bounds on the variation of the fundamental constants of nature. After a discussion on the role of fundamental constants, of their definition and link with metrology, the various constraints on the variation of the fine structure constant, the gravitational, weak and strong interactions couplings and the electron to proton mass ratio are reviewed. This review aims (1) to provide the basics of each measurement, (2) to show as clearly as possible why it constrains a given constant and (3) to point out the underlying hypotheses. Such an investigation is of importance to compare the different results, particularly in view of understanding the recent claims of the detections of a variation of the fine structure constant and of the electron to proton mass ratio in quasar absorption spectra. The theoretical models leading to the prediction of such variation are also reviewed, including Kaluza-Klein theories, string theories and other alternative theories and cosmological implications of these results are discussed. The links with the tests of general relativity are emphasized.Comment: 56 pages, l7 figures, submitted to Rev. Mod. Phy

Atomic transition frequencies, isotope shifts, and sensitivity to variation of the fine structure constant for studies of quasar absorption spectra

Theories unifying gravity with other interactions suggest spatial and temporal variation of fundamental "constants" in the Universe. A change in the fine structure constant, alpha, could be detected via shifts in the frequencies of atomic transitions in quasar absorption systems. Recent studies using 140 absorption systems from the Keck telescope and 153 from the Very Large Telescope, suggest that alpha varies spatially. That is, in one direction on the sky alpha seems to have been smaller at the time of absorption, while in the opposite direction it seems to have been larger. To continue this study we need accurate laboratory measurements of atomic transition frequencies. The aim of this paper is to provide a compilation of transitions of importance to the search for alpha variation. They are E1 transitions to the ground state in several different atoms and ions, with wavelengths ranging from around 900 - 6000 A, and require an accuracy of better than 10^{-4} A. We discuss isotope shift measurements that are needed in order to resolve systematic effects in the study. The coefficients of sensitivity to alpha-variation (q) are also presented.Comment: Includes updated version of the "alpha line" lis