Constraints on the Variation of the QCD Interaction Scale $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866909913019580416 |
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| author | Flambaum, V. V. Mansour, A. J. |
| author_facet | Flambaum, V. V. Mansour, A. J. |
| contents | Laboratory and astrophysical tests of ''constant variation'' have so far concentrated on the dimensionless fine-structure constant $α$ and on the electron or quark mass ratios $X_{e,q}=m_{e,q}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}$, treating the QCD scale $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ as unchangeable. Certain beyond Standard Model frameworks, most notably those with a dark matter or dark energy scalar field $ϕ$ coupling with the gluon field, would make $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ itself time dependent while leaving $α$ and the electron mass untouched. Under the minimal assumption that this gluonic channel is the sole $ϕ$ interaction, we recast state-of-the-art atomic clock comparisons into $\dotΛ_{\text{QCD}}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}=(3.2 \pm 3.5) \times 10^{-17} \ \text{yr}^{-1}$ limits, translate the isotope yields of the 1.8-Gyr-old Oklo natural reactor into a complementary geophysical limit of $|δΛ_{\text{QCD}}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}|<2\times10^{-9}$ over that time span, corresponding to the linear drift limit $|\dotΛ_{\text{QCD}}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}|<1\times10^{-18} \text{yr}^{-1}$, and show that the proposed $8.4$ eV $^{229}$Th nuclear clock would amplify a putative $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ drift by four orders of magnitude compared with present atomic clocks. We also obtain constraints from quasar absorption spectra and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis data. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_07266 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Constraints on the Variation of the QCD Interaction Scale $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ Flambaum, V. V. Mansour, A. J. High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics Nuclear Theory Atomic Physics Laboratory and astrophysical tests of ''constant variation'' have so far concentrated on the dimensionless fine-structure constant $α$ and on the electron or quark mass ratios $X_{e,q}=m_{e,q}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}$, treating the QCD scale $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ as unchangeable. Certain beyond Standard Model frameworks, most notably those with a dark matter or dark energy scalar field $ϕ$ coupling with the gluon field, would make $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ itself time dependent while leaving $α$ and the electron mass untouched. Under the minimal assumption that this gluonic channel is the sole $ϕ$ interaction, we recast state-of-the-art atomic clock comparisons into $\dotΛ_{\text{QCD}}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}=(3.2 \pm 3.5) \times 10^{-17} \ \text{yr}^{-1}$ limits, translate the isotope yields of the 1.8-Gyr-old Oklo natural reactor into a complementary geophysical limit of $|δΛ_{\text{QCD}}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}|<2\times10^{-9}$ over that time span, corresponding to the linear drift limit $|\dotΛ_{\text{QCD}}/Λ_{\text{QCD}}|<1\times10^{-18} \text{yr}^{-1}$, and show that the proposed $8.4$ eV $^{229}$Th nuclear clock would amplify a putative $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ drift by four orders of magnitude compared with present atomic clocks. We also obtain constraints from quasar absorption spectra and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis data. |
| title | Constraints on the Variation of the QCD Interaction Scale $Λ_{\text{QCD}}$ |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics Nuclear Theory Atomic Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.07266 |