Abstract
We consider the electron as a charged sphere that completely absorbs any radiation with wave number less than somek m . The Casimir effect then provides a self stress which can balance the mutual repulsion of the distinct parts of the finite charge distribution. From this equilibrium condition and connecting, by quantum arguments, the value ofk m to the radius of the electron, we obtain a good estimate for the value of the fine-structure constant.
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Carazza, B., Guidetti, G.P. The Casimir effect and the fine structure constant. Found Phys Lett 2, 245–250 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692670
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00692670