Phys. Rev. D 69, 121701(R) (2004) [5 pages]Neutron moderation in the Oklo natural reactor and the time variation of α
In previous analyses of the Oklo (Gabon) natural reactor to test for a possible time variation of the fine-structure constant α, a Maxwell-Boltzmann low energy neutron spectrum was assumed. We present here an analysis where a more realistic spectrum is employed and show that the most recent isotopic analysis of samples implies a decrease in α, over the last 2×109 years since the reactor was operating, of (αpast-αnow)/α>~4.5×10-8 (6σ confidence). Issues regarding the interpretation of the shifts of the low energy neutron absorption resonances are discussed. © 2004 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevD.69.121701
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevD.69.121701
PACS:
06.20.Jr, 28.20.Gd, 28.41.-i
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