Protocol 2: Temporal Alpha Drift

Status: Monitoring Optical Lattice Clocks (Yb vs. Sr) for frequency ratio shifts

Theoretic Postulate

In the AToE, the fine-structure constant α is the Spectral Regulator of the vacuum's computational impedance. As the universe expands, it accesses larger indices within the Prime-Fock space.

According to the Prime Number Theorem, the density of prime modes decreases as indices increase. This "arithmetic thinning" induces a minute, linear drift in the rigidity of the zeta spectrum.

α̇/α ≈ − π̇(x)/π(x) ∼ 10⁻¹⁸ yr⁻¹

Experimental Setup: Optical Metrology

Instrument: Dual-species Optical Lattice Clocks (e.g., ¹⁷¹Yb vs. ⁸⁷Sr) at cryogenic temperatures.
Protocol: Continuous comparison of the frequency ratio R = ν_Yb/ν_Sr over a period of 60 months.
Data Correlation: Synchronizing terrestrial clocks with the ACES mission on the ISS to eliminate local gravitational fluctuations.

Falsification Bounds

VERIFICATION	A confirmed non-zero drift in the range of [0.5 × 10⁻¹⁸ to 2.0 × 10⁻¹⁸] yr⁻¹.
FALSIFICATION	Proof of absolute constancy (stability better than 10⁻²⁰ yr⁻¹) or a drift magnitude > 10⁻¹⁶ yr⁻¹.