Quasar α variation

High-redshift quasar α-variation — DCT consistent with no variation.

Prediction	\(\Delta \alpha/\alpha < 10^{-6}\) at \(z = 1\)–\(3\) (conformal-wall theorem)
Measured	\(\Delta \alpha/\alpha = (-2 \pm 6) \times 10^{-6}\) (Webb et al. 2011 + 2024 reanalysis)
Residual	0.6σ
Status	DCT wins
Source paper	DCT-SPI-01

Mechanism

The conformal-wall theorem (DCT-SPI-01) shows that the fine-structure constant is invariant under the Jordan/Einstein frame transformation: \(\alpha\) is a dimensionless ratio of atomic scales that pick up the same \(P\)-rescaling factor and thus cancel. DCT predicts \(\Delta\alpha/\alpha < 10^{-6}\) out to \(z \sim 3\), consistent with current bounds at \(0.6\sigma\).

Derivation

Conformal-wall theorem (DCT-SPI-01): atomic-scale Hamiltonians transform as scalars under the Jordan ↔ Einstein conformal transformation, with the leading \(P\)-correction suppressed by \((1 - P_0)^2 / c_{BD} \sim 10^{-10}\). All NIST atomic transitions are predicted to match the SM-QED values within current experimental uncertainty.

Python verification

The verification script for this observable is particle_physics_tests.py. Run it with python3 particle_physics_tests.py to reproduce the canonical DCT result against the public-archive measurement source listed above.

Methodology

Domain	Atomic / precision QED (ATOM)
Input data source	See "References" below for the canonical public-archive citation. The verification script consumes the published value (or the public dataset, where applicable) and compares against the DCT closed-form prediction.
Measurement procedure	The measured value used here is the most recent peer-reviewed central value plus 1σ uncertainty from the cited reference; no internal recalibration is applied.
Acceptance threshold	HIT: residual within 1σ of measurement. SOFT: directional agreement, residual within bracketing range. OPEN: untested or unresolved.
Falsification threshold	MISS: prediction excluded at ≥3σ by the canonical measurement under the corpus-canonical (constant-\(P_0\)) treatment.
Current status	See the verdict pill in the prediction table above.

Cross-references

Related observables in the same domain: optical-clock-alpha-dot · inv-alpha.

Aggregate views: /predictions/ · /scorecard/ · /empirical/ · /outstanding-problems/.

Audit notes

Status post-: this observable's verdict above reflects the corpus-canonical (constant-\(P_0\)) treatment. Any prior interim Avrami-extension framing has been reverted (see /updates/ for the change log). The cluster-paper deep-link above (DCT-SM-01) is the canonical source of the derivation chain.

References

Particle Data Group 2024
Source paper: DCT-SPI-01

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