The Fundamental Constants in Physics

TL;DR

This paper explores the fundamental constants in physics, their potential variation over cosmological timescales, and discusses an experiment aimed at detecting changes in the QCD scale.

Contribution

It analyzes the relations between fundamental constants and their possible time variations, including a specific experimental approach to detect such changes.

Findings

Relations between the fine-structure constant and QCD scale are discussed.

An experiment in quantum optics aims to detect variations in the QCD scale.

Implications for Grand Unification theories are considered.

Abstract

We discuss the fundamental constants of physics in the Standard Model and possible changes of these constants on the cosmological time scale. The Grand Unification of the strong, electromagnetic and weak interactions implies relations between the time variation of the finestructure constant and of the QCD scale. An experiment in quantum optics at the MPQ in Munich, which was designed to look for a time variation of the QCD scale, is discussed.