We assume that the coupling between particles and photons is defined by a surface area and a temperature, and that the square of the temperature is the inverse of the surface area (h_bar=c=1). By making assumptions regarding stimulated emission and effects associated with the finite length of a string that forms the particle surface, the fine structure constant is calculated to be ~1/137.04. The corresponding calculated fundamental unit of charge is 1.6021E-19 C.

Categories: physics.gen-ph

Physics based calculation of the fine structure constant