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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

Probing unification scenarios with atomic clocks

M. C. Ferreira, M. D. Julião, C. J. A. P. Martins, A. M. R. V. L. Monteiro

Abstract
We discuss the usage of measurements of the stability of nature’s fundamental constants coming from comparisons between atomic clocks as a means to constrain coupled variations of these constants in a broad class of unification scenarios. After introducing the phenomenology of these models, we provide updated constraints based on a global analysis of the latest experimental results. We obtain null results for the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ̇/μ = (0.68 ± 5.79) × 10-16 yr-1 and for the gyromagnetic factor ġp/gp = (-0.72 ± 0.89) × 10-16 yr-1 (both of these being at the 95% confidence level). These results are compatible with theoretical expectations on unification scenarios, but much freedom exists due to the presence of a degeneracy direction in the relevant parameter space.

Physical Review D
Volume 86, Page 125025_1
December 2012

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Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

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