Recent content by Brian Sweet

In my case, I'm not referring to a hypothetical second universe, I'm trying to explore the possibility of a field or region within our own universe where the value of alpha is different. We already have data that suggests that the alpha constant has risen by a tiny fraction of a percent over the...

Okay, thanks for clearing that up! I'm trying to get a handle on the concept for a story idea: specifically, the idea that future technology could alter the alpha constant within a given field. From what I understand now, changing the alpha constant in an area would shrink/enlarge the atoms...

So you're saying that the change in a dimensional constant (like c) would be undetectable to us because they define their own units? That much makes sense. I guess my point of confusion is that the fine-structure constant is a ratio (thus, dimensionless), so if you change its value, you can...

Thanks for the reply! A follow up-question: there's an equation that links the alpha constant to e, c, and Planck's reduced constant, so if it were possible to keep two of those variables constant (say, e and c) while changing alpha, would that produce a meaningful change in the "value" of...

I've read online that the fine-structure constant (alpha) is at a sort of "goldilocks value" for life generation; if it were 4% lower, stars would not produce carbon or oxygen in their fusion, and if it were greater than 0.1, fusion simply wouldn't occur. These are interesting facts, but can...

Hello everyone, I'm an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at Cal Poly, and I like to write in my spare time, much to my peers' bafflement. I'm hoping that I can get involved in the community and have some of my trickier theoretical questions answered. I look forward to participating...