Are All Fundamental Physical Constants Accurately Known?

In summary, the conversation on PF's Special and General Relativity thread is focused on physical constants and their role in the universe. The discussion includes a link to a John Baez page which outlines 26 fundamental constants and their significance. These constants are important because they play a crucial role in shaping the universe and any changes to them would drastically alter the universe as we know it. While our current theories of physics suggest that all other dimensionless constants can be derived from these 26, there is some uncertainty and it may require simulating the entire universe to do so. Some of these fundamental constants are not known and their current status is being questioned. These include the masses of various quarks, particles, and the values of certain coupling constants
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Nereid
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In a thread in PF's Special and General Relativity ("What if the speed of light was slower") there is a discussion on physical constants, including c.

lethe pointed out that there are only 26* truly fundamental constants, and posted a link to a John Baez page with a discussion of these (Ambitwistor also posted a link to this Baez page, much earlier):
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/constants.html

These constants matter, at least in the sense that if any were different, the universe would be very different.

Baez says: 'All other dimensionless constants (aside from those built into the initial conditions) can in principle be derived from these, if our best theories of physics are correct - by which I mean general relativity, which covers gravity, and the Standard Model, which covers all the other forces. Of course, "in principle" means "not necessarily by any simpler method than by simulating the whole universe"!'

What's the current status of deriving 'all other dimensionless constants' from these 26? Are there any hints of discrepancies?

A quick look at Baez' list and I'm thinking that the values of quite a number of these fundamental constants aren't known. What's the current status on their values (most aren't on the NIST website)?

*from the Baez page:
-> the mass of the up quark
-> the mass of the down quark
-> the mass of the charmed quark
-> the mass of the strange quark
-> the mass of the top quark
-> the mass of the bottom quark
-> 4 numbers for the Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix

-> the mass of the electron
-> the mass of the electron neutrino
-> the mass of the muon
-> the mass of the mu neutrino
-> the mass of the tau
-> the mass of the tau neutrino
-> 4 numbers for the Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata matrix

-> the mass of the Higgs boson
-> the expectation value of the Higgs field

-> the U(1) coupling constant
-> the SU(2) coupling constant
-> the strong coupling constant

-> the cosmological constant
 
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  • #2
Great question! Looking forward to responses.
 

FAQ: Are All Fundamental Physical Constants Accurately Known?

What are fundamental physical constants?

Fundamental physical constants are values that are considered to be universal and unchanging throughout the universe. They are used to describe the fundamental properties of nature, such as the speed of light, the charge of an electron, and the gravitational constant.

How are fundamental physical constants determined?

Fundamental physical constants are determined through a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental measurements. Scientists use a variety of techniques and technologies to accurately measure these values and ensure their consistency.

Why are fundamental physical constants important?

Fundamental physical constants play a crucial role in our understanding of the world around us. They are used in a wide range of scientific fields, from basic research in physics to the development of new technologies. These constants also provide a standard of measurement and help us to make accurate predictions about natural phenomena.

Are fundamental physical constants truly constant?

While fundamental physical constants are considered to be universal and unchanging, there have been some indications that they may vary over time or in different parts of the universe. This is an active area of research and scientists continue to study and refine our understanding of these constants.

How are fundamental physical constants related to the laws of physics?

Fundamental physical constants are deeply connected to the laws of physics. These constants are used in equations that describe the behavior of matter and energy, and they help us to understand the underlying principles that govern the universe. Changes in these constants could potentially lead to a re-evaluation of our current understanding of physics.

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