47 research outputs found
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. L{\'e}vy-Leblond:
constants of objects (masses, etc.), constants of phenomena (coupling
constants), and "universal constants" (such as and ). 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 , , and a length parameter and discuss its
origins and the connection to the possible kinematic groups discovered by
L{\'e}vy-Leblond and Bacry. Finally, we give some comments about the
interpretation of these constants.Comment: 18 pages, pedagogical article. v3: small corrections and extensions,
some references added. This version matches the published on