The time variation of the fine structure constant: A statistical analysis of astronomical data

TL;DR

This paper investigates the variation of the fine structure constant over time by analyzing astronomical data sets with statistical methods, revealing consistency in smaller intervals but discrepancies when considering entire data ranges.

Contribution

It introduces a statistical approach to assess the consistency of different astronomical data sets on the fine structure constant's variation over time.

Findings

Consistency in smaller data intervals

Discrepancies in whole-interval analysis

Proposed criterion for data segmentation

Abstract

We analyze different data of the variation of the fine structure constant obtained with different methods to check their consistency.We test consistency using the modified Student test and confidence intervals. We split the data sets in smaller intervals. A criterion for this selection is proposed. Results show consistency for reduced intervals for each pair of data sets considered. Results are at variance with the ones obtained considering mean values over the whole interval.