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Quote by Frank Wilczek

“QED [quantum electrodynamics] reduces ... "all of chemistry and most of physics," to one basic interaction, the fundamental coupling of a photon to electric charge. The strength of this coupling remains, however, as a pure number, the so-called fine-structure constant, which is a parameter of QED that QED itself is powerless to predict.”

Book:Longing for the Harmonies: Themes and Variations from Modern Physics

Work

Longing for the Harmonies: Themes and Variations from Modern Physics

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Author

Frank Wilczek

Frank Wilczek is a renowned theoretical physicist known for his work in quantum field theory and condensed matter physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research on the weak interaction between quarks and leptons. more

“Here the attention of the research workers is primarily directed to the problem of reconciling the claims of the special relativity theory with those of the quantum theory. The extraordinary advances made in this field by Dirac ... leave open the question whether it will be possible to satisfy the claims of the two theories without at the same time determining the Sommerfeld fine-structure constant.”

Physics Relativity Quantum Theory Fine Structure Constant

Book:Physics and philosophy: the revolution in modern science

Source: Physics and philosophy: the revolution in modern science

“We can measure the fine structure constant with very great precision, but so far none of our theories has provided an explanation of its measured value. One of the aims of superstring theory is to predict this quantity precisely. Any theory that could do that would be taken very seriously indeed as a potential 'Theory of Everything'.”

Physics String Theory Fine Structure Constant Constants Of Nature

Book:Impossibility: The Limits of Science and the Science of Limits

Source: Impossibility: The Limits of Science and the Science of Limits

“The focus of history and philosophy of science scholar Arthur Miller’s (2010) "137: Jung and Pauli and the Pursuit of Scientific Obsession" is Jung and Pauli’s mutual effort to discover the cosmic number or fine structure constant, which is a fundamental physical constant dealing with electromagnetism, or, from a different perspective, could be considered the philosopher’s stone of the mathematical universe. This was indeed one of Pauli and Jung’s collaborative passions, but it was not the only concentration of their relationship. Quantum physics could be seen as the natural progression from ancient alchemy, through chemistry, culminating in the abstract world of subatomic particles, wave functions, and mathematics. [Ancient Egypt and Modern Psychotherapy]”

Mathematics Quantum Physics Ancient Egypt History Of Science Fine Structure Constant Constants Of Nature

Author:Todd Hayen

“Alpha, known as the fine-structure constant, characterizes the interactions between matter and light. It has been very accurately measured in the laboratory. It is indeed the most precisely measured of all physical constants ... best memorized in the form ~ 1/137.”