Michael T. Murphy

TL;DR: The results of a search for time variability of the fine structure constant alpha using absorption systems in the spectra of distant quasars find no systematic effects which can explain the results.

TL;DR: It is shown that tracking complex, time-varying systematic effects in the spectrograph and detector system is a particular advantage of laser frequency comb calibration, and this technique promises an effective means for modeling and removal of such systematic effects to the accuracy required by future experiments to see direct evidence of the universe's putative acceleration.

TL;DR: New Very Large Telescope (VLT) data shows an inverse evolution; α increases at high redshift; the combined data set fits a spatial dipole, significant at the 4.2 σ level.

TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed many-multiplet analysis of a third Keck/HIRES sample containing 78 absorption systems was presented, providing a total of 128 absorption systems over the redshift range 0.2 < zabs < 3.7.

TL;DR: In this paper, a new technique for precise wavelength calibration of high-resolution spectrographs using femtosecond-pulsed mode-locked lasers controlled by sta-ble oscillators such as atomic clocks is described.