Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium
Limit on the Temporal Variation of the Fine-Structure Constant Using Atomic Dysprosium
Over 8 months, we monitored transition frequencies between nearly degenerate, opposite-parity levels in two isotopes of atomic dysprosium (Dy). These frequencies are sensitive to variation of the fine-structure constant ($\ensuremath{\alpha}$) due to relativistic corrections of opposite sign for the opposite-parity levels. In this unique system, in contrast to atomic-clock comparisons, …