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arXiv · 1109.4702

Transitions in Zr, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Hg, Ac and U ions with high sensitivity to variation of the fine-structure constant

J. C. Berengut·V. A. Dzuba·V. V. Flambaum
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Abstract

We study transitions between ground and low-energy excited states of heavy ions corresponding to s-d single-electron transitions or s^2-d^2 double-electron transitions. The large nuclear charge Z and significant change in angular momentum of electron orbitals make these transitions highly sensitive to a potential variation in the fine-structure constant, alpha. The transitions may be considered as candidates for laboratory searches for space-time variation of alpha.

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J. C. Berengut, V. A. Dzuba, V. V. Flambaum. 2011-09-22. Transitions in Zr, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Hg, Ac and U ions with high sensitivity to variation of the fine-structure constant. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.84.054501

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