Nuclear Data in Oklo and Time-Variability of Fundamental Coupling Constants

0 The nuclear interaction at Oklo 2 billion years ago ∗

We re-examine the effort to constrain the time-variability of the coupling constants of the fundamental interactions by studying the anomalous isotopic abundance of Sm observed at the remnants of the natural reactors which were in operation at Oklo about 2 billion years ago, in terms of a possible deviation of the resonance energy from the value observed today. We rely on new samples that were ...

The Nuclear Interaction at Oklo 2 Billion Years Ago *

We re-examine Shlyakhter’s effort to constrain the time-variability of the coupling constants of the fundamental interactions by studying the anomalous isotopic abundance of Sm observed at the remnants of the natural reactors which were in operation at Oklo about 2 billion years ago. We rely on new samples that were carefully collected to minimize natural contamination and also on a careful tem...

s . ge n - ph ] 6 A ug 2 00 3 Direct Test of the Time - Independence of Fundamental Nuclear Constants Using the Oklo Natural Reactor ∗

. ge n - ph ] 3 J ul 2 00 3 Direct Test of the Time - Independence of Fundamental Nuclear Constants Using the Oklo Natural Reactor ∗

Oklo Constraint on the Time-Variability of the Fine-Structure Constant

The Oklo phenomenon, natural fission reactors which had taken place in Gabon about 2 billion years ago, provides one of the most stringent constraints on the possible time-variability of the fine-structure constant α. We first review briefly what it is and how reliable it is in constraining α. We then compare the result with a more recent result on the nonzero change of α obtained from the obse...