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A Re-examination of the $^{187}$Re Bound on the Variation of Fundamental Couplings

Keith A. Olive·Maxim Pospelov·Yong-Zhong Qian·Gerard Manhes·Elisabeth Vangioni-Flam·Alain Coc·Michel Casse
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Abstract

We reconsider the Re187 bound on the variation of the fine-structure constant. We combine the meteoritic measurement with several present-day lab measurements to firmly establish the quantitative upper limit to the time variation over the age of the solar system. We find that the relative change of the fine-structure constant between its present value and $α$ of \sim 4.6 Gyr ago is consistent with zero, Delta alpha/alpha = [-8\pm 8 (1σ)] x 10^{-7}. We also rederive this bound in models where all gauge and Yukawa couplings vary in an interdependent manner, as would be expected in unified theories.

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Keith A. Olive, Maxim Pospelov, Yong-Zhong Qian, Gerard Manhes, Elisabeth Vangioni-Flam, Alain Coc, Michel Casse. 2003-09-10. A Re-examination of the $^{187}$Re Bound on the Variation of Fundamental Couplings. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.69.027701

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