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From: tan@ihlpg.UUCP (Bill Tanenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Fine structure constant.
Message-ID: <1096@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 18:07:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1096
Posted: Fri Aug 16 18:07:11 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 21:14:44 EDT
References: <498@sri-arpa.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 17

> From:  Thomas Spencer* 
> 	I am given to understand that Qunatum Electrodynamics (QED) 
> makes a prediction about the value of the fine structure constant.
> Furthermore, it is difficult but possible to derive a numerical for
> this constant.  This derivation supposedly  has been done to some extent 
> and the theoretical value has been determined to about 10 significant figures.
> The fine structure constant can be measured from Hydrogen spectra to about
> the same accuracy and the theoretical and measured values agree.  
> 
> 	Question: Is this correct ?
--------------
No. The fine structure constant is an arbitrary constant in Q. E. D.  Of
course, if the constant were much larger than it is, the perturbation
expansion series given by Q. E. D. would not converge, and it would be
difficult or impossible to calculate anything.
-- 
Bill Tanenbaum - AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville IL  ihnp4!ihlpg!tan