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Testing the Stability of the Fine Structure Constant in the Laboratory

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(2009)cite arxiv:0904.1663 Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures, The ISSI Workshop, 6-10 October 2008, on The Nature of Gravity "Confronting Theory and Experiment in Space".

Abstract

In this review we discuss the progress of the past decade in testing for a possible temporal variation of the fine structure constant $\alpha$. Advances in atomic sample preparation, laser spectroscopy and optical frequency measurements led to rapid reduction of measurement uncertainties. Eventually laboratory tests became the most sensitive tool to detect a possible variation of $\alpha$ at the present epoch. We explain the methods and technologies that helped make this possible.

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