Sherril, N; Parsons, A O; Baynham, C F A; Bowden, W; Curtis, E A; Hendricks, R; Hill, I R; Hobson, R; Margolis, H S; Robertson, B I; Schioppo, M; Szymaniec, K; Tofful, A; Tunesi, J; Godun, R M; Calmet, X (2023) Analysis of atomic-clock data to constrain variations of fundamental constants. New Journal of Physics, 25. 093012

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Abstract

We present a new framework to study the time variation of fundamental constants in a model-independent way. Model independence implies more free parameters than assumed in previous studies. Using data from atomic clocks based on 87Sr, 171Yb+ and 133Cs, we set bounds on parameters controlling the variation of the fine-structure constant, alpha, and the electron-to-proton mass ratio, mu. We consider variations on timescales ranging from a minute to almost a day. In addition, we use our results to derive some of the tightest limits to date on the parameter space of models of ultralight dark matter and axion-like particles.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	atomic clocks, optical clocks, ytterbium ion clock, strontium lattice clock, caesium fountain, fundamental constants, fine structure constant, electron-to-proton mass ratio, dark matter
Subjects:	Time and Frequency > Optical Frequency Standards and Metrology
Divisions:	Time & Frequency
Identification number/DOI:	10.1088/1367-2630/aceff6
Last Modified:	05 Jan 2024 14:31
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/9887