Universal Constants in Blackett's Formula
Abstract
RECENTLY, Blackett1 has suggested that the formula represents a fundamental relation between the angular momentum U and the magnetic moment P of a massive rotating body; where G is the gravitational constant, c the velocity of the light and β a dimension-less constant of the order of unity. If the formula were true, it would be a great aid towards finding a theory unifying the gravitational and the electromagnetic field. It is, therefore, interesting to investigate what conditions the formula would impose upon such a future theory. If we assume that the equations of the new theory can be derived from a Lagrangian, and that the magnetic moment of a rotating body is originated through some cross-terms between the gravitational and the electromagnetic field quantities in the Lagrangian, then it would be found that there must be other universal constants than G and c in the theory.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- November 1947
- DOI:
- 10.1038/160746b0
- Bibcode:
- 1947Natur.160..746T