Higher-order recoil corrections to helium fine structure

A class of recoil corrections of order alpha4m(e)/m(alpha)Ry(infinity)c to the fine structure of helium is calculated. The present status of the fine structure constant determine from comparison of theory with recent accurate experiments of the large interval nu(01) is described, and possible explanations for significant discrepancies between theory and experiment for nu(01), as well as the small interval nu(12), discussed.