Limits on the Variation of Physical Constants Derived from Molecular Absorption Lines

Abstract

A potential diagnostic application of molecular rotational absorption lines at high redshift is to test the invariance of physical constants. This can be done by comparing the observed redshifted frequency of a molecular absorption line with redshifted lines from other types of transitions such as the 21cm hyperfine transition or electronic resonance transitions. In order to set stringent limits, it is necessary to achieve the greatest possible frequency resolution. This makes radio lines well suited for this purpose.