- #1
asimov42
- 377
- 4
Hi all,
I have a rather naive question about the fine structure constant and the relationship between its value and the energy scale involved.
I understand the idea of the a charge being 'screened' by vacuum polarization (i.e., electron-position pairs popping in and out of existence), and that the value of the fine structure constant is approx. 1/137 for a 'dressed' charge at an infinite distance. What I don't understand is what exactly it means to 'increase' the energy scale.
If we were to simply accelerate, say, an electron, to a high velocity (without smashing it into anything), would we expect the electromagnetic interaction with a passing proton to be stronger, since the electron has more kinetic energy? This doesn't seem right, since velocity is relative. Or does the energy scale only matter in a collision?
I guess I'm not really clear on the meaning of energy scale; when other posts refer to the energy scale as increasing at shorter distances, does this mean the value of the fine structure constant would effectively be different when measured 'near' the electron?
Sorry if this has already been dealt with - I searched through the archives but wasn't able to find an answer to these specific questions.
I have a rather naive question about the fine structure constant and the relationship between its value and the energy scale involved.
I understand the idea of the a charge being 'screened' by vacuum polarization (i.e., electron-position pairs popping in and out of existence), and that the value of the fine structure constant is approx. 1/137 for a 'dressed' charge at an infinite distance. What I don't understand is what exactly it means to 'increase' the energy scale.
If we were to simply accelerate, say, an electron, to a high velocity (without smashing it into anything), would we expect the electromagnetic interaction with a passing proton to be stronger, since the electron has more kinetic energy? This doesn't seem right, since velocity is relative. Or does the energy scale only matter in a collision?
I guess I'm not really clear on the meaning of energy scale; when other posts refer to the energy scale as increasing at shorter distances, does this mean the value of the fine structure constant would effectively be different when measured 'near' the electron?
Sorry if this has already been dealt with - I searched through the archives but wasn't able to find an answer to these specific questions.