Constraining variations in the fine-structure constant with the cosmic microwave background

Manoj Kaplinghat, Robert J. Scherrer, and Michael S. Turner
Phys. Rev. D 60, 023516 – Published 25 June 1999
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

Any time variation in the fine-structure constant alters the ionization history of the universe and therefore changes the pattern of cosmic microwave background fluctuations. We calculate the changes in the spectrum of these fluctuations as a function of the change in α, and we find that these changes are dominated by the change in the redshift of recombination due to the shift in the binding energy of hydrogen. We estimate the accuracy with which the next generation of cosmic microwave background experiments might constrain any variation in α at z1000. We find that such experiments could potentially be sensitive to |Δα/α|102103.

  • Received 19 October 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.60.023516

©1999 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Manoj Kaplinghat

  • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210

Robert J. Scherrer

  • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • Department of Astronomy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
  • NASA/Fermilab Astrophysics Center, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510

Michael S. Turner

  • NASA/Fermilab Astrophysics Center, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510
  • Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics and of Physics, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637-1433

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 60, Iss. 2 — 15 July 1999

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×