A possibility for fundamental constants to vary in time is suggested by theories unifying gravity with other interactions. In this article we examine proposals to use optical transitions of Sr, Dy, Yb II, and Yb III for the search of the time variation of the fine-structure constant $\alpha .$ Frequencies of atomic transitions are calculated using the relativistic Hartree-Fock method and configuration interaction technique. The effect of variation of $\alpha$ on the frequencies is studied by varying $\alpha$ in computer codes. Accuracy of measurements needed to improve the current best limit on the time variation of $\alpha$ is discussed.

• Received 14 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.68.022506