Education and Learning

The Fine Structure Constant

By Aira Astralis

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Length1h 48m

About this audiobook

Why does the strength of every electric and magnetic interaction in the universe come down to one number near one divided by one hundred thirty-seven, and why can no theory explain it? This book tells the story of the fine structure constant: how Michelson's spectroscope first caught the delicate splitting of hydrogen's lines; how Arnold Sommerfeld in 1916 derived the ratio from Bohr's atom and Einstein's relativity; how the quantum revolution promoted it from spectral detail to the coupling constant of light itself; and how the renormalized theory of the 1940s made it the governor of the most precise calculations in science.

Audiobook details

GenreEducation and Learning

Length1 hr 48 mins

Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateOct 22, 2026

LanguageEnglish

1Introduction

2Chapter 1: The Discovery of The Fine Structure Constant

3Chapter 2: Understanding The Fine Structure Constant

4Chapter 3: Key Characteristics of The Fine Structure Constant

5Chapter 4: The Science Behind The Fine Structure Constant

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6Chapter 5: Observation and Measurement of The Fine Structure Constant

7Chapter 6: Important Features of The Fine Structure Constant

8Chapter 7: The Fine Structure Constant in Context

9Chapter 8: Modern Understanding of The Fine Structure Constant

10Chapter 9: Research and Exploration of The Fine Structure Constant

11Chapter 10: Significant Discoveries About The Fine Structure Constant

12Chapter 11: Challenges and Mysteries of The Fine Structure Constant

13Chapter 12: Future Directions in The Fine Structure Constant Research

14Chapter 13: Trivia and Fun Facts About The Fine Structure Constant Alpha has collected more anecdotes, legends, and oddments than any other number in physics. This chapter gathers the best of them, and the collection itself says something: only a genuinely mysterious number could inspire this much affection.

15Chapter 14: Conclusion: The Significance of The Fine Structure Constant

16References: The Fine-Structure Constant

17Glossary

18About the Author

19Series Info

20Copyright