2003/05/23 by F. I. Cooperstock, F. I. COOPERSTOCK, V. Faraoni +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Relativity and Gravitational Theory #astro-ph #gr-qc #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1142/s0218271803004134
published as Int.J.Mod.Phys. D12 (2003) 1657-1662 · 8 pages, This essay received an "honourable mention" in the 2003 Essay Competition of the Gravity Research Foundation
arxiv created 2003/05/23 · openalex publication_date 2003/10/01 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In the standard approach to defining a Planck scale where gravity is brought into the quantum domain, the Schwarzschild gravitational radius is set equal to the Compton wavelength. However, ignored thereby are the charge and spin, the fundamental quantized aspects of matter. The gravitational and null-surface radii of the Kerr–Newman metric are used to introduce spin and charge into a new extended Planck scale. The fine structure constant appears in the extended Planck mass and the recent discovery of the α variation with the evolution of the universe adds further significance. An extended Planck charge and Planck spin are derived. There is an intriguing suggestion of a connection with the α value governing high-energy radiation in Z-boson production and decay.