Space-Time Variation of Physical Constants and Relativistic Corrections in Atoms

Detection of high-redshift absorption in the optical spectra of quasars have provided a powerful tool to measure spatial and temporal variations of physical “constants” in the Universe. It is demonstrated that high sensitivity to the variation of the fine structure constant α can be obtained from a comparison of the spectra of heavy and light atoms (or molecules). We have performed calculations for the pair FeII and MgII for which accurate quasar and laboratory spectra are available. A possibility of 10 times enhanced effects of the fundamental constants variation suitable for laboratory measurements is also