H${}_2$/HD molecular data for analysis of quasar spectra in search of varying constants

Abstract

Absorption lines of H${}_2$ and HD molecules observed at high redshift in the line of sight towards quasars are a test ground to search for variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio $\mu$. For this purpose, results from astronomical observations are compared with a compilation of molecular data of the highest accuracy, obtained in laboratory studies as well as in first-principles calculations. Aims: A comprehensive line list is compiled for H${}_2$ and HD absorption lines in the Lyman ($B^1{\Sigma }_u^{+}$ - $X^1{\Sigma }_g^{+}$) and Werner ($C^1{\Pi }_u$ - $X^1{\Sigma }_g^{+}$) band systems up to the Lyman cutoff at 912 Angstroms. Molecular parameters listed for each line $i$ are the transition wavelength ${\lambda }_i$, the line oscillator strength $f_i$, the radiative damping parameter of the excited state ${\Gamma }_i$, and the sensitivity coefficient $K_i$ for a variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio. Methods: The transition wavelengths ${\lambda }_i$ for the H${}_2$ and HD molecules are determined by a variety of advanced high-precision spectroscopic experiments involving narrowband vacuum ultraviolet lasers, Fourier-transform spectrometers, and synchrotron radiation sources. Results for the line oscillator strengths $f_i$, damping parameters ${\Gamma }_i$, and sensitivity coefficients $K_i$ are obtained in theoretical quantum chemical calculations. Results: A new list of molecular data is compiled for future analyses of cold clouds of hydrogen absorbers, specifically for studies of $\mu$-variation from quasar data. The list is applied in a refit of quasar absorption spectra of B0642$-$5038 and J1237$+$0647 yielding constraints on a variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio $\Delta \mu /\mu$ consistent with previous analyses.

arXiv comment4 pages. Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics. The 3 tables containing the molecular data are available at http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR?-source=J/A+A/622/A127 and are contained in the source package of the arXiv submission (in "Other formats")

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