Re/Os constraint on the time-variability of the fine-structure constant

Abstract

We argue that the accuracy by which the isochron parameters of the decay $^{187}{\rm Re}\to ^{187}{\rm Os}$ are determined by dating iron meteorites may not directly constrain the possible time-dependence of the decay rate and hence of the fine-structure constant $α$. From this point of view, some of the attempts to analyze the Oklo constraint and the results of the QSO absorption lines are re-examined.

7 pages, 3 figures; v2, revised top sentence on p. 6