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Measuring α in the Early Universe

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Abstract

We update the bounds on a time-varying fine structure constant α at the time of BBN (z∼1010) and CMB (z∼103) and present the current CMB constraints on α, through a combined analysis of the BOOMERanG, MAXIMA and DASI datasets. We also present a discussion of the constraints on α coming from large-scale structure observations, focusing in particular on the power spectrum from the 2dF survey. Finally we provide a analysis of the degeneracies between α and the other cosmological parameters and discuss ways to break these with both existing and/or forthcoming data. Our results are consistent with no variation in α from the epoch of recombination to the present day, and restrict any such variation to be less than about 4%.We show that the forthcoming MAP and Planck experiments will be able to break most of the currently existing degeneracies between α and other parameters, and measure α to better than percent accuracy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astrophysics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom

    Graça Rocha

  2. Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, R. das Estrelas s/n, 4150-762, Porto, Portugal

    Graça Rocha

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  1. Graça Rocha
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Rocha, G. Measuring α in the Early Universe. Astrophysics and Space Science 283, 589–594 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022526701418

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