Can Mathematical Structure

and Physical Reality be the

Same Thing?
An attempt to find the fine structure constant and other
fundamental constants in such a structure

Pinhas Ben-Avraham
October 2009
N-dimensional Euclidean space
(  r )
2 k
V ( r , n)  C n r 
n
; k  2n
k!
And

k!  k  1)  (  1)n
2

Yields

n
(  r )
2 2

V ( r , n) 
  n2 )
 Volume of an n-dimensional sphere

1. Radius = 1
2. V (r, n)
V

n
5 10 15 20

1
0.75
r
0.5

0.25

6
V
4

0
0 2 4 6 8 10

n
• Acceleration introduces a velocity to a resting
point, acceleration also needs to be introduced
by a “jerk” j = da/dt. This would produce the
following scenario: let us assume, |j| = 1, then
a(t) = ∫01j dt = 1t =1, and v(t) = t2/2 with x(t) = t3/6.
Vice versa, we need a mean jerk <j> of 6 to
reach length one in unit time.
• If the acceleration is known as one, the integral
of dvdt equals ½. If Δx = 1 and Δv = ½, then
their product will be half, with x = v2/2 from Fx =
max = mv2/2 for starting from zero velocity and
static zero position. Hence, Δx Δv = ½.
• Minimum mathematical uncertainty

   1
(  x | f ( x) | dx)(  v | f (v) | dv) 
2 2 2 2
  16 2
 Volume of Reciprocal Sphere in n Dimensions and
Conditions at p = 1/2

• Volume of momentum space in n dimensions, solved to p

 12  n2 n
2 |p 1 n
| (1  n) sin( )
V p ( p , n)   2
(1  n2 )
1 n
n
2 2 2 2
(r ) 2
| p 1 n | (1  n) sin( n2 )
1  0
(1  2 )
n

1
  2  n (r 2 ) 2 csc( n )(1  n ) 2 
1 n
1 n
 
3

p ( r , n)  2 2 ( 1 n ) 2 2
 (1  n) 
 
 Solutions for p ≥ ½ in 6 Dimensions

• For r = 

0.02

0.04
r

0.06
0.2
p
0.1
0 0.08
0
2
4
n
6
 Fractional Charges

• 1/3 and 2/3 of an

elementar charge

0.0265
0.03

0.027

0.04
0.0275
r r

0.02 0.028
p 0.05
0.01
p0.1
0 0.05
0
0.4 0.25
0.6
0.5
n 0.75
1
n 1.25
1.5
 Square Root of 1/137 in n Dimensions

• Electric Charge Found in all Real

Dimensions

0.04

r
0.06

p0.1
0.05
0 0.08
0
10

n 20
 Momentum or velocity densities within a spherical n-
dimensional space element
• Jung’s smallest sphere that encloses an object with diameter 1
n
R
2(n  1)

• With
p 2 2q 2 / r
2

r r2

• We obtain for p (r, n) = ½ divided by V(R, n) and solved to alpha

5
 ( / 4)  2
n
2
 
 (1  2 ) 
n

 ( n)   
1 / n
  1 3 1 n 
  2(1 n )   n 
 2   0.5  n
 (1  n ) sin  
  2 
2 2   
 (1  n2 ) 
 
 
 
 Results for the Minima of Alpha

• All fundamental constants lie on this curve

log r

n
5 10 15 20 25

-5

-10

-15

-20
 Acceleration and Jerk

• The volumes of acceleration and jerk space are

1
Va   
(1  n2 )
 1 n2 n

 | a |  (  n )  (1  n ) sin
 n

 2



 1  (1)
2n
 n 
cos
 2 

  i  1  (1)
2n
  n
sign (a ) sin 
 2
  
  



1
Vj  
2(1  n2 )

[
 
3 n
2  n
| j 1 n | (n)(1  n) 2 sin
 2


 1  (1)

2n
  n 
cos
 2 

  i  1  (1)
2n
  n  
sin   
 2 



 

 n 
  i  1  (1) 2 n cos
2
  n  
 sign( j )  1  (1) sin

2n

 2
 

 ]
 Velocity and Acceleration

• Elementar Charge, Velocity and Acceleration around 5 Dimensions

0.08
0.08

r
r 0.082
0.082

0.084
0.084

20000
0.03
15000
0.02 p a
10000
0.01 5000
0
0
4.5 4.75 5 5.25 5.5
4.5 4.75 5 5.25 5.5

n
n
 Analysis of Maximum Accelerations in n
Dimensions
• For a (r, n) we obtain

 n
a ( r , n)  2

 n n
 1  
 2
n n
 n   n   n 
 [2 (r ) cos  (n)(1  n) sin    2 (1)  2 n  n (r 2 ) 2 cos  (n)(1  n)
n 2 2

 2   2   2 
n 2 n 2 1
 n   n   n 
sin    2i n (r 2 ) 2 (n)(1  n) sin    2i (1)  2 n  n (r 2 ) 2 (n) sin   (1  n)] n
 2   2   2 
 Acceleration in n Dimensions

• For a (r, n) ≥ 6 we obtain

1.2

1.4
r
1.6

1.8

0.75

0.5 a

0.25
0 20
40 60 80 0
100
n
 Results

• Tables of Results where to find interaction constants

Dimensions Co-dimension n for pmax Min. Charge Charge
0-2 1.4217 0.72 0.02685 1

1.0875 0.64 2/3

0.24 0.525 1/3

4-6 1.1061 4.96 0.07826 1

Dimensional range 0-4 4-8 8 - 12 12 - 16 16 - 20 20 - 24

Interaction strong Electromag. weak spin spin gravitation

Numerical value √αr2 or αr 9.98 1/√137.036 8.3×10-4 1.3×10-10 5×10-16 4.18×10-23

Purely real dimensions 0<n<2 4<n<6 8<n<10 12<n<14 16<n<18 20<n<22

 Conclusions

• Is the presence of zitterbewegung a necessary

requirement for time asymmetry? – If the answer
is yes, this has far reaching consequences for
how we need to look at the physics of our
universe. Fractality and non-differentiability of
time-related spaces that we represented as
Fourier transforms can become a very simple
explanation for time-asymmetry, uncertainty and
similar features of the structure describing
physics of the universe, but building such
structure still requires observation and
interpretation.
 Conclusions
• We have demonstrated the dependence of a purely mathematical
uncertainty on dimensionality. From geometrical considerations we
have arrived at numerical values for minimum space for movement
and movement densities in n dimensions.
• There is no such thing as Tegmark’s “Reality independent of an
observer”.

We think we have shown a simplistic but viable example for a relatively

naïve mathematical structure and minimal conceptual input, what richness
lies in the structure’s (spherical space’s) transformations, if interpreted.
Without such interpretation there is no way of recognizing such structure as
a (simplified) physical reality, and such interpretation has to be made by an
observer. So, we come back to Wheeler’s signposts and the space between
them: only if all the space between them can be filled with certainty, we can
say we have a mathematical universe that is determinable without an
observer and his or her participation.