Assessing the dependency of the fine structure constant on gravity using hot DA white dwarfs

0 Assigned ID: 202 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Thu Apr 07 08:52:20 GMT 2016) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 202 (Alpha Proposal - 2016.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 202-1 ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Thu Apr 07 21:45:40 GMT 2016) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 202 (Alpha Proposal - 2016.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 202-2 ----- Attempting Submission 3 (Fri Apr 08 07:19:16 GMT 2016) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 202 (Alpha Proposal - 2016.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 202-3 Illegal selection: RESTRICTED. proposal type changed back to GO. 918978198 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Mon Jul 18 23:43:11 GMT 2016) ----- HST Phase II Proposal 14791 (Alpha-Cyc24.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 14791-1 ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Wed Jul 20 16:22:14 GMT 2016) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 3 (Sat Aug 06 16:12:26 GMT 2016) ----- ----- Attempting Submission 4 (Mon Aug 08 13:05:11 GMT 2016) ----- HST Phase II Proposal 14791 (14791.apt) successfully submitted. Receipt: # 14791-4 ----- Attempting Submission 5 (Mon Aug 08 13:26:26 GMT 2016) ----- Assessing the dependency of the fine structure constant on gravity using hot DA white dwarfs Variation of fundamental constants is a common theme of many theories of quantum gravity and Grand Unification. Using spectra obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope, it has been shown by Berengut et al. (2013), and Bagdonaite et al. (2014), that it is possible to place strong constraints on gravitational variations of the fine structure constant (alpha), and the proton to electron mass ratio (mu) in white dwarf stars. As part of the UV initiative, we propose to observe four hot DA white dwarf stars using STIS with the E140H grating, totalling 12 orbits. These four stars have been chosen so as to have a wide range of masses, allowing a full exploration of the compactness parameter space (M/R). We will measure several absorption features of Fe V and Ni V, and extract any potential variation in alpha in a manner similar to Berengut et al. (2013). This proposal will be a significant advance in the effort to detect gravitational variations in alpha. A confirmed detection of alpha variation would have extensive consequences for fundamental physics, cosmology, and would also signal the breakdown of Einstein's Equivalence principle, and hence, general relativity. Furthermore, a null detection would also allow strong limits to be placed on any potential alpha variation in a strong gravitational field. FUV MAMA Echelle spectra of three White Dwarf stars will be observed with the E140H grating, with settings 1307 & 1416. Visit A0 star: WD2211-495 Target acquisition using the 50CCD aperture Orbit 1 E140H spectrum with cen. wave. setting 1307 using the 0."2x0."2 slit During earth block: GO wavecal exposures with cen. wave. setting 1307 using the 0."2x0."09 slit Orbit 2 E140H spectrum with cen. wave. setting 1416 using the 0."2x0."2 slit During earth block: GO wavecal exposures with cen. wave. setting 1416 using the 0."2x0."09 slit Visit C0 star: WD0621-376 (REJ0623-371) Target acquisition using the 50CCD aperture Orbit 1&2 E140H spectrum with cen. wave. setting 1307 using the 0."2x0."2 slit During earth blocks: GO wavecal exposures with cen. wave. setting 1307 using the 0."2x0."09 slit Orbit 3&4 E140H spectrum with cen. wave. setting 1416 using the 0."2x0."2 slit During earth blocks: GO wavecal exposures with cen. wave. setting 1416 using the 0."2x0."09 slit Visit D0 star: WD0455-28 Target acquisition using the 50CCD aperture Orbit 1, 2, 3: E140H spectrum with cen. wave. setting 1307 using the 0."2x0."2 slit During earth blocks: GO wavecal exposures with cen. wave. setting 1307 using the 0."2x0."09 slit Visit D1 star: WD0455-28 Target acquisition using the 50CCD aperture Orbit 1, 2, 3: E140H spectrum with cen. wave. setting 1416 using the 0."2x0."2 slit During earth blocks: GO wavecal exposures with cen. wave. setting 1416 using the 0."2x0."09 slit Stellar Physics 12 false false false false false false RESTRICTED STAR DA ICRS coordinates and proper motions from SIMBAD; verified against 2MASS coordinates (epoch 1999.65) J2000 J2000 IUE fluxes: 1.4E-11 @ 130 nm, 1.1E-11 @ 140nm STAR DA ICRS coordinates and proper motions from SIMBAD; verified against 2MASS coordinates (epoch 1999.88) REJ0623-374 J2000 J2000 IUE fluxes: 9E-12 @ 130 nm, 7E-12 @ 140nm STAR DA ICRS coordinates and proper motions from SIMBAD; verified against 2MASS coordinates (epoch 1998.98) J2000 J2000 IUE fluxes: 1.6E-12 @ 130 nm, 1.2E-12 @ 140nm STIS/FUV-MAMA Spectroscopic No No E140H 1416 STIS/FUV-MAMA Spectroscopic No No E140H 1416 STIS/FUV-MAMA Spectroscopic No No E140H 1416 STIS/FUV-MAMA Spectroscopic No No E140H 1416 1470499597738 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "A0" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160601" :date "06-Aug-2016 10:06:37.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 2 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 174448 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "A0" :obset-id "A0" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "A0" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 3019 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3352 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "A0" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3130 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 319 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3352 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 2 0 time to saturation 0.5s; SNR= 220 1470499573544 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "C0" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160601" :date "06-Aug-2016 10:06:12.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 4 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 348464 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "C0" :obset-id "C0" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "C0" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2934 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "C0" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3045 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "C0" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3045 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "C0" :orbit-number 4 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3045 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 319 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3267 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 4 0 time to saturation 1.0s; SNR= 148 1470499589807 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D0" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160601" :date "06-Aug-2016 10:06:28.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 261456 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D0" :obset-id "D0" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D0" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2896 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3229 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D0" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3007 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3229 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D0" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3007 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 319 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3229 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 3 0 time to saturation 4.0s; SNR= 71 1470499606364 The scheduling data was generated by CASM 24.2. CASM was run in Phase II mode. (Tic-Visit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D1" :proposal-version -1 :trans-version "20160601" :date "06-Aug-2016 10:06:45.0" :trans-errors '(:WARNINGS 0 :ERRORS 0 :HEALTH-AND-SAFETY 0 :FATAL-ERRORS 0 :CONTINUABLE-FATALS 0) :number-of-orbits 3 :saa-model "24" :si-bright-earth-limb-angle 20.0 :data-volume 261456 :tdrss-contact-duration 0 :coron NIL ) (Tic-Obset :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D1" :obset-id "D1" :pcs-mode "FGS" ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D1" :orbit-number 1 :pcs-time 333 :si-vis-utilization 2896 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3229 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D1" :orbit-number 2 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3007 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 0 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3229 :pcs-gap 0 ) (Tic-Orbit :proposal-id 14791 :visit-id "D1" :orbit-number 3 :pcs-time 222 :si-vis-utilization 3007 :al-overhead-at-end 487 :internal-dur-at-end 319 :dark-offset NIL :dark-utilization 0 :max-dark-utilization 1920 :low-sky "N" :pcs-visibility 3229 :pcs-gap 0 ) false 3 0 time to saturation 4.0s; SNR= 71