New limits on the drift of fundamental constants from laboratory measurements.
We have remeasured the absolute 1S-2S transition frequency nu(H) in atomic hydrogen. A comparison with the result of the previous measurement performed in 1999 sets a limit of (-29+/-57) Hz for the drift of nu(H) with respect to the ground state hyperfine splitting nu(Cs) in 133Cs. Combining this result with the recently published optical transition frequency in 199Hg+ against nu(Cs) and a microwave 87Rb and 133Cs clock comparison, we deduce separate limits on alpha/alpha=(-0.9+/-2.9) x 10(-15) yr(-1) and the fractional time variation of the ratio of Rb and Cs nuclear magnetic moments mu(Rb)/mu(Cs) equal to (-0.5+/-1.7) x 10(-15) yr(-1). The latter provides information on the temporal behavior of the constant of strong interaction.
Fischer
M
M
Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany.
Kolachevsky
N
N
Zimmermann
M
M
Holzwarth
R
R
Udem
Th
T
Hänsch
T W
TW
Abgrall
M
M
Grünert
J
J
Maksimovic
I
I
Bize
S
S
Marion
H
H
Pereira Dos Santos
F
F
Lemonde
P
P
Santarelli
G
G
Laurent
P
P
Clairon
A
A
Salomon
C
C
Haas
M
M
Jentschura
U D
UD
Keitel
C H
CH