Limits on a Gravitational Field Dependence of the Proton--Electron Mass Ratio from H$_2$ in White Dwarf Stars

Abstract

Spectra of molecular hydrogen (H$_2$) are employed to search for a possible proton-to-electron mass ratio ($μ$) dependence on gravity. The Lyman transitions of H$_2$, observed with the Hubble Space Telescope towards white dwarf stars that underwent a gravitational collapse, are compared to accurate laboratory spectra taking into account the high temperature conditions ($T \sim 13\,000$ K) of their photospheres. We derive sensitivity coefficients $K_i$ which define how the individual H$_2$ transitions shift due to $μ$-dependence. The spectrum of white dwarf star GD133 yields a $Δμ/μ$ constraint of $(-2.7\pm4.7_{\rm stat}\pm 0.2_{\rm sys})\times10^{-5}$ for a local environment of a gravitational potential $ϕ\sim10^4\ ϕ_\textrm{Earth}$, while that of G29$-$38 yields $Δμ/μ=(-5.8\pm3.8_{\rm stat}\pm 0.3_{\rm sys})\times10^{-5}$ for a potential of $2 \times 10^4$ $ϕ_\textrm{Earth}$.

5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted by PRL