# If Fine Structure Constant in not uniform in space what would that imply for cosmic background?

Recently J.Webb submitted paper which has extraordinary claim - that Fine Structure Constant is different in different directions in space! He (with others) measured $\alpha$ using quasar spectrum absorption method in different directions and found small variation. There is huge debate about this finding, but lets suppose it is true.

Do you think spacial variation of Fine Structure Constant could have some influence to the Cosmic microwave background radiation? Because $\alpha$ influences the Electromagnetic interactions which is responsable for atom formation. And neutral atoms were the key for transparent universe in its early development sages.

Could this be observed?

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Without have read anything more than the abstract or being qualified to comment on the observations or analysis, I'll note that I have seen 4 sigma effects evaporate before. That's a decent level of significance, but not iron clad. – dmckee Jan 22 '11 at 18:01
This question is almost identical to this one. – user346 Jan 22 '11 at 19:24

So a part of the observed anisotropy of the temperature of the CMB radiation could be blamed on the non-uniformity of the fine-structure constant in the times when the CMB was created. However, physicists would always think that the non-uniformity of alpha didn't arise "just for fun" but it was probably driven by something else. So they would ultimately reparameterize the influence of a variable $\alpha$ to the influence of something else, anyway.