Large number coincidences and unification of the parameters underlying elementary particles astrophysics and cosmology

Abstract

The Ubiquitous occurrence of the Dirac-Eddington large dimensionless numbers when relating the physical parameters such as mass, radius, angular momentum etc. of typical astrophys1cal objects like stars and galax1es to the fundamental constants of atomic physics is currently interpreted in terms of constants imposed on these parameters as a result of physical processes underlying the existence of these objects rather than as chance coincidences, i.e. these relations can be understood in terms of the underlying physics governing these objects. Again various cosmolog1cal parameters such as the total number of nucleons, the photon-to-baryon ratio etc. can be expressed in terms of these numbers, which again can be understood in terms of the physics involved. In fact it would appear that Eddington's cloud bound observer can also get a good idea about the overall mass, size and background temperature of the universe, apart from his classic deductions on the masses and luminosities of stars sans observations. Further the weak and strong interaction coupling constants can be included in the large number hypothesis (LNH) and dimensionless relations connecting these constants to cosmological parameters can be constructed. The gross parameters characterizing the universe such as overall size and mass can be arrived at from microphysical considerations involving the fundamental interactions of elementary particle Physics with interesting relations for the Hubble radius and closure density obtained entirely in terms of the coupling constants underlying these interactions. Several other interesting coincidences and relationships connecting the parameters of cosmology and elementary particle physics are pointed out. The significance of these inter-relations is explored especially in connection with the time variation of the fundamental constants and the unification of cosmology and quantum physics. The above topics belong close to Eddington’s interests seem particularly appropriate for discussion at this meeting.