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On the nature of fundamental physical constants.

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Title: On the nature of fundamental physical constants.
Authors: Mareš, Jiří J.1 (AUTHOR), Špička, Václav1 (AUTHOR) spicka@fzu.cz, Hubík, Pavel1 (AUTHOR)
Source: European Physical Journal: Special Topics. Jul2026, Vol. 235 Issue 11, p3083-3099. 17p.
Subject Terms: *Physical constants, *Fine-structure constant, *Physical sciences, *Metrology, *Planck scale, *Boltzmann's constant, *Physical cosmology
Abstract: The present paper deals with various aspects of epistemologically diverse roles played by the fundamental constants in modern physics, cosmology and metrology. The primary aim of this contribution is to turn reader's attention to some weak points in the current interpretations of these remarkable entities. The fundamental constants represent a rich blend of physical quantities of a very different nature, such as conversion factors, characteristics of certain micro-physical objects, free-space-related universal constants ħ and c or genuine dimensionless fundamental constants, as is the fine structure constant α. Since the numerical values of the fundamental constants are closely related to an arbitrary system of units used, a strong "objectivization" trend to construct a system of physical units, which would be free of anthropic elements, has thus appeared in modern physics. The Planck system of natural units, reputedly retaining its meaning for all times and civilizations, extra-terrestrial beings included, may serve as an example. This program was later completed by, among theoreticians very popular non-dimensionalization, which we critically analyse. Finally, a conceptually simple example of a typical conversion factor, the Boltzmann fundamental constant k, which is a key constant in statistical physics and thermodynamics, is discussed. In conclusion, the usefulness of the anthropic approach to the problem of fundamental constants is declared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  – Url: https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02191-4
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  – Url: https://resolver.ebsco.com/c/fiv2js/result?sid=EBSCO:asx&genre=article&issn=19516355&ISBN=&volume=235&issue=11&date=20260725&spage=3083&pages=3083-3099&title=European Physical Journal: Special Topics&atitle=On%20the%20nature%20of%20fundamental%20physical%20constants.&aulast=Mare%C5%A1%2C%20Ji%C5%99%C3%AD%20J.&id=DOI:10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02191-4
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  Data: On the nature of fundamental physical constants.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mareš%2C+Jiří+J%2E%22">Mareš, Jiří J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Špička%2C+Václav%22">Špička, Václav</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> spicka@fzu.cz</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hubík%2C+Pavel%22">Hubík, Pavel</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Physical+Journal%3A+Special+Topics%22">European Physical Journal: Special Topics</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 235 Issue 11, p3083-3099. 17p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+constants%22">Physical constants</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fine-structure+constant%22">Fine-structure constant</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+sciences%22">Physical sciences</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metrology%22">Metrology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Planck+scale%22">Planck scale</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Boltzmann's+constant%22">Boltzmann's constant</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+cosmology%22">Physical cosmology</searchLink>
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  Data: The present paper deals with various aspects of epistemologically diverse roles played by the fundamental constants in modern physics, cosmology and metrology. The primary aim of this contribution is to turn reader's attention to some weak points in the current interpretations of these remarkable entities. The fundamental constants represent a rich blend of physical quantities of a very different nature, such as conversion factors, characteristics of certain micro-physical objects, free-space-related universal constants ħ and c or genuine dimensionless fundamental constants, as is the fine structure constant α. Since the numerical values of the fundamental constants are closely related to an arbitrary system of units used, a strong "objectivization" trend to construct a system of physical units, which would be free of anthropic elements, has thus appeared in modern physics. The Planck system of natural units, reputedly retaining its meaning for all times and civilizations, extra-terrestrial beings included, may serve as an example. This program was later completed by, among theoreticians very popular non-dimensionalization, which we critically analyse. Finally, a conceptually simple example of a typical conversion factor, the Boltzmann fundamental constant k, which is a key constant in statistical physics and thermodynamics, is discussed. In conclusion, the usefulness of the anthropic approach to the problem of fundamental constants is declared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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        Value: 10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02191-4
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 3083
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fine-structure constant
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      – SubjectFull: Physical sciences
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      – SubjectFull: Metrology
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      – SubjectFull: Planck scale
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      – SubjectFull: Boltzmann's constant
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      – SubjectFull: Physical cosmology
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            – D: 25
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
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