Universal Constants and Natural Systems of Units in a Spacetime of Arbitrary Dimension

We study the properties of fundamental physical constants using the threefold classification of dimensional constants proposed by J.-M. Lévy-Leblond: constants of objects (masses, etc.), constants of phenomena (coupling constants), and “universal constants” (such as <i>c</i> and <i>...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anton Sheykin, Sergey Manida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Universe
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/6/10/166
Description
Summary:We study the properties of fundamental physical constants using the threefold classification of dimensional constants proposed by J.-M. Lévy-Leblond: constants of objects (masses, etc.), constants of phenomena (coupling constants), and “universal constants” (such as <i>c</i> and <i>ℏ</i>). We show that all of the known “natural” systems of units contain at least one non-universal constant. We discuss the possible consequences of such non-universality, e.g., the dependence of some of these systems on the number of spatial dimensions. In the search for a “fully universal” system of units, we propose a set of constants that consists of <i>c</i>, <i>ℏ</i>, and a length parameter and discuss its origins and the connection to the possible kinematic groups discovered by Lévy-Leblond and Bacry. Finally, we give some comments about the interpretation of these constants.
ISSN:2218-1997