Variation of the fine-structure constant: an update of statistical analyses with recent data

TL;DR

This paper updates statistical analyses of astronomical data on the fine-structure constant's variation, examining consistency across datasets and exploring potential dependencies on redshift and angular position.

Contribution

It introduces refined statistical methods and phenomenological models to analyze the variation of the fine-structure constant using recent KECK and VLT data.

Findings

Data sets are consistent within smaller redshift and angular intervals.

Variation in  is significant at higher redshifts.

Dipole model fits the data best but suggests dependence on redshift and position.

Abstract

We analyze the consistency of different astronomical data of the variation in the fine-structure constant obtained with KECK and VLT. We tested the consistency using the Student test and confidence intervals. We splited the data sets in to smaller intervals and grouped them acording to redshift and angular position. Another statistical analysis is proposed that considers phenomenological models for the variation in \alpha. Results show consistency for the reduced intervals for each pair of data sets and suggests that the variation in \alpha is significant at higher redshifts. Even though the dipole model seems to be the most accurate phenomenological model, the statistical analyses indicate that the variation in \alpha might be depending on both redshift and angular position.