[net.physics] Changing speed of light

gjphw@ihuxm.UUCP (08/29/83)

   While there is no current theory that allows for an interdependence between
the speed of light in a vacuum and the dimensions of the physical universe, I
wonder if Pauli's large number hypothesis allows for a changing speed of light.
It has been several years since I first heard of his hypothesis that links some
quantities of the universe (e.g., radius) with certain atomic constants.  At a
graduate school seminar, I heard of efforts to modify Einstein's general theory
of relativity to encompass both cosmology and familiar atomic constants.  That
seemed rather far fetched, but someone younger than Pauli has apparently been
thinking of some links between the macroscopic and the microscopic.

   My question: does Pauli's large number hypothesis allow for a change in the
speed of light in a vacuum with a change in the radius of the physical
universe?

                                               Out to cause trouble
                                               Patrick Wyant
                                               Bell Labs (Naperville, IL)
                                               *!ihuxm!gjphw

gwyn@brl-vld@sri-unix.UUCP (08/31/83)

From:      Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn@brl-vld>

If you're really interested in relations between small-scale and
cosmological phenomena, check out A. S. Eddington's "Fundamental Theory"
written ages ago.  It is certainly not correct in its entirety, but
there are some interesting insights there.

steve@brl-bmd@sri-unix.UUCP (09/01/83)

From:      Stephen Wolff <steve@brl-bmd>

........ and Eddington is especially captivating if you like magic numbers.