Avoiding bias in measurements of fundamental constants from high resolution quasar spectra

TL;DR

High-resolution quasar spectra analysis can be biased towards null results due to previous procedures, but new methods and careful calibration can mitigate these biases for more accurate measurements of fundamental constants.

Contribution

The paper identifies potential biases in high-resolution quasar spectra analysis and proposes improved analysis methods to avoid systematic errors in measuring fundamental constants.

Findings

Previous analysis procedures can introduce systematic bias towards null results.

Supercomputer simulations reveal the extent of bias in current methods.

A new analysis prescription reduces bias in future measurements.

Abstract

Recent advances in spectroscopic instrumentation and calibration methods dramatically improve the quality of quasar spectra. Supercomputer calculations show that, at high spectral resolution, procedures used in some previous analyses of spacetime variations of fundamental constants are likely to generate spurious measurements, biased systematically towards a null result. Developments in analysis methods are also summarised and a prescription given for the analysis of new and forthcoming data.