Extra Dimensions and Varying Alpha

Abstract

I review recent constraints on and claimed detections of a time-varying fine-structure constant $\alpha$. Our results are consistent with no variation in $\alpha$ from the epoch of recombination to the present day, and restrict any such variation to be less than about 4%. The forthcoming MAP and Planck experiments will be able to break most of the currently existing degeneracies between $\alpha$ and other cosmological parameters, and measure $\alpha$ in the early universe with an accuracy comparable to current claimed recent-universe detections.

Comments: Oral contribution to IAP Colloquium 2002, to appear in the Proceedings