Astrophysics, clocks and fundamental constants [... invited reviews presented at an International Conference "Astrophysics, Clocks and Fundamental Constants" organized as the 302nd WE-Heraeus-Seminar which took place in June, 2003, in Bad Honnef in German

In 1937 the question of a possible temporal variation of the fundamental constants was raised by Paul Dirac in his "large number hypothesis." Today it appears in the context of the search for a unified theory of the fundamental interactions. It touches both fundamental and applied physics, as the postulated unalterability of the constants is the foundation for modern metrology. The book presents reviews written by leading experts in the field. Focussing on the question of variations of the fundamental "constants" in time or space, the chapters cover the theoretical framework in which variations are expected and the search for variations of quantities such as the fine-structure constant, the electron/proton mass ratio, g-factors of proton and neutron etc. in astrophysical and geophysical observations and in precision experiments with atomic clocks and frequency standards. The question of a possible temporal variation of the fundamental constants was raised by Paul Dirac in his "large number hypothesis" in 1937. Today it appears in the context of the search for a unified theory of the fundamental interactions. It touches both fundamental and applied physics, as the postulate of the unalterability of the constants is the foundation for modern metrology. The book presents reviews written by leading experts in the field. Focussing on the question of variations of the fundamental "constants" in time or space, the chapters cover the theoretical framework in which variations are expected and the search for variations of quantities like the fine-structure constant, the electron/proton mass ratio, g-factors of proton and neutron etc. in astrophysical and geophysical observations and in precision experiments with atomic clocks and frequency standards. TOC:Evolution of the Universe.- Quantum Gravity and Fundamental Constants.- Physics and Metrology.- Search for New Physics with Atomic Clocks.- Cold Atom Clocks and Fundamental Tests.- 30 Years of Testing the PPN parameters.- Cryogenic Optical Resonators.- Absorption Spectra.- Variability of the Fine-Structure Constant.- Millesecond Pulsars? Tools of Fundamental Physics.- Constants, Units and Standards.- Time Varying Fundamental Constants, Extra Dimensions and the Renormalization Group.- A Time Dependence of the QCD Scale.- Towards More Sensitive Measurements with Optical Clocks.- Search for Variations of Fundamental Constants using Precision Spectroscopy of Atomic Hydrogen.- A New Era in Precision Molecular Spectroscopy.- Yb+ Optical Frequence Standard.- In+ Trapped Ion Optical Frequency Standard.- An Optical Frequency Standard with Cold Calcium Atoms.- Atom Optics: A Versatile Tool for New Quantum Sensors in Space For a quantitative understanding of the physics of the universe - from the solar system through the milky way to clusters of galaxies all the way to cosmology - these edited lecture notes are perhaps among the most concise and also among the most critical ones: Astrophysics has not yet stood the redundancy test of laboratory physics, hence should be aware of early interpretations. Special chapters are devoted to magnetic and radiation processes, supernovae, disks, black-hole candidacy, bipolar flows, cosmic rays, gamma-ray bursts, image distortions, and special sources. At the same time, planet earth is viewed as the arena for life, with plants and animals having evolved to homo sapiens during cosmic time. -- This text is unique in covering the basic qualitative and quantitative tools, formulae as well as numbers, needed for the precise interpretation of frontline phenomena. The author compares mainstream interpretations with new and even controversial ones he wishes to emphasize. The second edition includes numerous updates throughout the book and, in addition, it contains a list of alternative explanations to astrophysical findings that can be seen as a serious testing ground for young scientists. TOC:From the Contents: Cosmic Structures: Solar System.- The Milky Way.- World Substratum.- Distance Ladder.- Galaxies, Galaxy Clusters, and Sponge Structure.- Cosmology.- Gas Dynamics: Galactic Pressures.- Shock Waves.- Stellar Winds.- H II Regions.- Stability of a Contact Discontinuity.- Pressure Bombs.- Supernovae.- Radiation and Spectra: Radiation by an Accelerated Point Charge.- Frequency Distributions.- Spectra Emitted by Ensembles An Introduction to Varying Fundamental Constants....Pages 1-18 Time and the Universe....Pages 21-32 Millisecond Pulsarsas Tools of Fundamental Physics....Pages 33-54 Fundamental Units: Physics and Metrology....Pages 57-74 Constants, Units and Standards....Pages 75-93 Time Varying Fundamental Constants,Extra Dimensionsand the Renormalization Group....Pages 97-105 Fundamental Constantsand Their Possible Time Dependence....Pages 107-113 Quantum Gravity and Fundamental Constants....Pages 115-127 Constraining Variationsin the Fine-Structure Constant, Quark Massesand the Strong Interaction....Pages 131-150 Astrophysical Constraintson Hypothetical Variabilityof Fundamental Constants....Pages 151-166 Oklo Constraint on the Time-Variabilityof the Fine-Structure Constant....Pages 167-185 Cold Atom Clocks, Precision Oscillators and Fundamental Tests....Pages 189-207 Precision Spectroscopy of Atomic Hydrogen and Variations of Fundamental Constants....Pages 209-227 An Optical Frequency Standardwith Cold and Ultra-cold Calcium Atoms....Pages 229-244 Trapped Ion Optical Frequency Standards for Laboratory Tests of Alpha-Variability....Pages 247-261 An Optical Frequency Standard Basedon the Indium Ion....Pages 263-272 Applications of Femtosecond Laser Combto Nonlinear Molecular Spectroscopy....Pages 275-295 Ultracold Trapped Molecules: Novel Systemsfor Tests of the Time-Independenceof the Electron-to-Proton Mass Ratio....Pages 297-307 35 Years of Testing Relativistic Gravity: Where Do We Go from Here?....Pages 311-330 Search for New Physics with Atomic Clocks....Pages 331-341

The question of a possible temporal variation of the fundamental constants was raised by Paul Dirac in his "large number hypothesis" in 1937. Today it appears in the context of the search for a unified theory of the fundamental interactions. It touches both fundamental and applied physics, as the postulate of the unalterability of the constants is the foundation for modern metrology. The book presents reviews written by leading experts in the field. Focussing on the question of variations of the fundamental "constants" in time or space, the chapters cover the theoretical framework in which variations are expected and the search for variations of quantities like the fine-structure constant, the electron/proton mass ratio, g-factors of proton and neutron etc. in astrophysical and geophysical observations and in precision experiments with atomic clocks and frequency standards.

Devised for a quantitative understanding of the physics of the universe from the solar system through the milky way to clusters of galaxies all the way to cosmology, this acclaimed text offers among the most concise and most critical ones of extant works. Special chapters are devoted to magnetic and radiation processes, disks, black-hole candidacy, bipolar flows, cosmic rays, gamma-ray bursts, image distortions, and special sources. At the same time, planet earth is viewed as the arena for life, with plants and animals having evolved to homo sapiens during cosmic time. This text is unique in covering the basic qualitative and quantitative tools, formulae as well as numbers, needed to for the precise interpretation of frontline phenomena.

"This text is unique in covering the basic qualitative and quantitative tools, formulae as well as numbers, needed for the precise interpretation of frontline phenomena in astrophysical research. The author compares mainstream interpretations with new and even controversial ones he wishes to emphasize." "The second edition includes numerous updates throughout the book and, in addition, it contains a list of alternative explanations to astrophysical findings that can be seen as a serious testing ground for young scientists."--Résumé de l'éditeur "This text is unique in covering the basic qualitative and quantitative tools, formulae as well as numbers, needed for the precise interpretation of frontline phenomena in astrophysical research. The author compares mainstream interpretations with new and even controversial ones he wishes to emphasize." "The second edition includes numerous updates throughout the book and, in addition, it contains a list of alternative explanations to astrophysical findings that can be seen as a serious testing ground for young scientists."--Jacket