A search for varying fundamental constants using hertz-level frequency measurements of cold CH molecules

Abstract

Many modern theories predict that the fundamental constants depend on time, position or the local density of matter. Here we develop a spectroscopic method for pulsed beams of cold molecules, and use it to measure the frequencies of microwave transitions in CH with accuracy down to 3 Hz. By comparing these frequencies with those measured from sources of CH in the Milky Way, we test the hypothesis that fundamental constants may differ between the high- and low-density environments of the Earth and the interstellar medium. For the fine structure constant we find Δα/α = (0.3±1.1) × 10-7, the strongest limit to date on such a variation of α. For the electron-to-proton mass ratio we find Δμ/μ = (-0.7±2.2) × 10-7. We suggest how dedicated astrophysical measurements can improve these constraints further and can also constrain temporal variation of the constants. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.