The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspective

Abstract We revisit Duff, Okun, and Veneziano’s divergent views on the number of fundamental constants and argue that the issue can be set to rest by having spacetime as the starting point. This procedure disentangles the resolution in what depends on the assumed spacetime (whether relativistic or n...

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Main Authors: George E. A. Matsas, Vicente Pleitez, Alberto Saa, Daniel A. T. Vanzella
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-09-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71907-0
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author George E. A. Matsas
Vicente Pleitez
Alberto Saa
Daniel A. T. Vanzella
author_facet George E. A. Matsas
Vicente Pleitez
Alberto Saa
Daniel A. T. Vanzella
author_sort George E. A. Matsas
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We revisit Duff, Okun, and Veneziano’s divergent views on the number of fundamental constants and argue that the issue can be set to rest by having spacetime as the starting point. This procedure disentangles the resolution in what depends on the assumed spacetime (whether relativistic or not) from the theories built over it. By defining that the number of fundamental constants equals the minimal number of independent standards necessary to express all observables, as assumed by Duff, Okun, and Veneziano, it is shown that the same units fixed by the apparatuses used to construct the spacetimes are enough to express all observables of the physical laws defined over them. As a result, the number of fundamental constants equals one in relativistic spacetimes.
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spelling doaj-art-a18c7db4aa324c1e91c868dda52793e32024-12-22T12:26:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-09-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-71907-0The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspectiveGeorge E. A. Matsas0Vicente Pleitez1Alberto Saa2Daniel A. T. Vanzella3Institute for Theoretical Physics, São Paulo State UniversityInstitute for Theoretical Physics, São Paulo State UniversityDepartment of Applied Mathematics, University of CampinasSão Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São PauloAbstract We revisit Duff, Okun, and Veneziano’s divergent views on the number of fundamental constants and argue that the issue can be set to rest by having spacetime as the starting point. This procedure disentangles the resolution in what depends on the assumed spacetime (whether relativistic or not) from the theories built over it. By defining that the number of fundamental constants equals the minimal number of independent standards necessary to express all observables, as assumed by Duff, Okun, and Veneziano, it is shown that the same units fixed by the apparatuses used to construct the spacetimes are enough to express all observables of the physical laws defined over them. As a result, the number of fundamental constants equals one in relativistic spacetimes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71907-0Physical unitsFundamental constantsDuff-Okun-Veneziano controversy
spellingShingle George E. A. Matsas
Vicente Pleitez
Alberto Saa
Daniel A. T. Vanzella
The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspective
Scientific Reports
Physical units
Fundamental constants
Duff-Okun-Veneziano controversy
title The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspective
title_full The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspective
title_fullStr The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspective
title_full_unstemmed The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspective
title_short The number of fundamental constants from a spacetime-based perspective
title_sort number of fundamental constants from a spacetime based perspective
topic Physical units
Fundamental constants
Duff-Okun-Veneziano controversy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71907-0
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