  As an extension of the method by Bahcall et al. (2004) to investigate the
time dependence of the fine structure constant, we describe an approach based
on new observations of forbidden line multiplets from different ionic species.
We obtain optical spectra of fine structure transitions in [Ne III], [Ne V], [O
III], [OI], and [SII] multiplets from a sample of 14 Seyfert 1.5 galaxies in
the low-z range 0.035 < z < 0.281. Each source and each multiplet is
independently analyzed to ascertain possible errors. Averaging over our sample,
we obtain a conservative value alpha^2(t)/\alpha^2(0) = 1.0030+-0.0014.
However, our sample is limited in size and our fitting technique simplistic as
we primarily intend to illustrate the scope and strengths of emission line
studies of the time variation of the fine structure constant. The approach can
be further extended and generalized to a "many-multiplet emission line method"
analogous in principle to the corresponding method using absorption lines. With
that aim, we note that the theoretical limits on emission line ratios of
selected ions are precisely known, and provide well constrained selection
criteria. We also discuss several other forbidden and allowed lines that may
constitute the basis for a more rigorous study using high-resolution
instruments on the next generation of 8 m class telescopes.

Astrophysics