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Fine-structure constant and dimension analysis

Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation K A Tomilin 1999 Eur. J. Phys. 20 L39 DOI 10.1088/0143-0807/20/5/404

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1 Institute for the History of Science and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 103012, Staropansky per., 1/5, Moscow, Russia

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  1. Received 14 June 1999

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0143-0807/20/5/L39

Abstract

Dimensional analysis of the formula for the fine-structure constant does not provide evidence that one of the constants c, , or e is not fundamental. Natural systems of units based on the velocity of light c, Planck's constant , and the electric charge e are possible and prospective for quantum metrology. In these systems, the coefficient in the Coulomb law is numerically equal to the fine-structure constant 1/137.

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