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Limits on a gravitational field dependence of the proton-electron mass ratio from H2 in white dwarf stars.


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Bagdonaite, J 
Salumbides, EJ 
Preval, SP 
Barstow, MA 
Barrow, JD 

Abstract

Spectra of molecular hydrogen (H2) are employed to search for a possible proton-to-electron mass ratio (μ) dependence on gravity. The Lyman transitions of H2, observed with the Hubble Space Telescope towards white dwarf stars that underwent a gravitational collapse, are compared to accurate laboratory spectra taking into account the high temperature conditions (T∼13 000  K) of their photospheres. We derive sensitivity coefficients Ki which define how the individual H2 transitions shift due to μ dependence. The spectrum of white dwarf star GD133 yields a Δμ/μ constraint of (-2.7±4.7stat±0.2syst)×10(-5) for a local environment of a gravitational potential ϕ∼10(4) ϕEarth, while that of G29-38 yields Δμ/μ=(-5.8±3.8stat±0.3syst)×10(-5) for a potential of 2×10(4) ϕEarth.

Description

Keywords

0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences

Journal Title

Phys Rev Lett

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0031-9007
1079-7114

Volume Title

113

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)
Sponsorship
Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/L000636/1)
This work was supported by the FOM-Program \Bro- ken Mirrors & Drifting Constant", Science and Technol- ogy Facilities Council, Templeton Foundation and Aus- tralian Research Council (DP110100866).