Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 163, 159-171 (2008)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2008-00817-5

Variation of fundamental constants in space and time: Theory and observations

¹ School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia
² Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University (Albany Campus), Private Bag 102904, North Shore MSC Auckland, New Zealand

Corresponding author: flambaum@phys.unsw.edu.au

Abstract

Review of recent works devoted to the temporal and spatial variation of the fundamental constants and dependence of the fundamental constants on the gravitational potential (violation of local position invariance) is presented. We discuss the variation of the fine structure constant α=e²/ħc, strong interaction and fundamental masses (Higgs vacuum), e.g. the electron-to-proton mass ratio μ=m_e/M_p or X_e=m_e/Λ_QCD and X_q=m_q/Λ_QCD. We also present new results from Big Bang nucleosynthesis and Oklo natural nuclear reactor data and propose new measurements of enhanced effects in atoms, nuclei and molecules, both in quasar and laboratory spectra.