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A mathematician’s version of the fine‐structure constant

AUG 01, 1971

DOI: 10.1063/1.3022875

Gloria B. Lubkin

A theoretical paper that predicts a value for the fine‐structure constant α = e2/ℏc in terms only of simple rational powers of integers and π, agrees with the experimental value for α within one‐half part per million, that is within one‐third standard deviation or less. The present experimental accuracy of α (about 1.5 ppm) corresponds roughly to the thickness of a sheet of paper out of the length of a football field.

This article is only available in PDF format

© 1971 American Institute of Physics
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