Probing proton-to-electron mass ratio variability with QSO 0347–383 spectra

Abstract

We introduce a new approach for detecting potential cosmological changes in the proton-to-electron mass ratio (µ) by studying the absorption lines of molecular hydrogen (H2) in the high-redshift quasar QSO 0347–383. By comparing these observations with high-precision laboratory data, we determine a variation of ∆µ/µ = (0.120 ± 0.144) × 10⁻⁸ at z_abs = 3.025. This highly precise result offers valuable insights into the constancy of fundamental physical constants over extended cosmic periods.