How the relation e^2/4pi = 1/137 may be obtained in the framework of Quantum Electrodynamics

TL;DR

This paper explains how the fine structure constant's value can be derived within Quantum Electrodynamics by comparing theoretical calculations with experimental Coulomb law data.

Contribution

It provides a pedagogical demonstration of deriving the fine structure constant from QED calculations and experimental Coulomb law measurements.

Findings

The numeric value of the fine structure constant can be obtained from QED.

The Coulomb law coefficient serves as an observable for this derivation.

The approach links theoretical QED results with experimental data.

Abstract

In this pedagogical note it is demonstrated how the numeric value of fine structure constant may be established by comparing results following from the calculations in the framework of Quantum Electrodynamics with the experimental data. As an observable, the coefficient of 1/r in the Coulomb law is used.