Speaker
Description
Modern physical theories rest on two foundational assumptions general covariance, which holds that the laws of physics are valid across all of space-time, and the cosmological principle, which asserts that no observer occupies a special location in the universe. Both principles can be empirically tested through astronomical spectroscopy. Tests of general covariance involve searching for spatial or temporal variations in fundamental constants, such as the fine-structure constant (α). Meanwhile, the cosmological principle can be examined by measuring variations in total optical depth across different lines of sight in the universe. In this talk, I will review recent constraints from VLT/ESPRESSO on Îα/α and outline the potential of upcoming facilities, including the ELT-HIRES and the proposed Wide-field Spectroscopic Telescope, to provide tighter constraints and probe deeper into the structure and isotropy of the universe.
