Standard and derived Planck quantities: selected analysis and derivations

TL;DR

This paper reviews fundamental natural units derived from physical constants, compares Planck and Stoney units, and explores their physical interpretations and significance in quantum gravity and thermodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a possible physical basis for Stoney units, links them to Planck units, and discusses their relevance in thermodynamics and quantum gravity.

Findings

Stoney units can be physically motivated similarly to Planck units.

Planck units are significant for thermodynamics in quantum gravity.

A connection between Stoney and Planck units is proposed.

Abstract

We provide an overview of the fundamental units of physical quantities determined naturally by the values of fundamental constants of nature. We discuss a comparison between the 'Planck units', now widely used in theoretical physics and the pre-quantum 'Stoney units' in which, instead of the Planck constant, the charge of the electron is used with very similar quantitative results. We discuss some of the physical motivation for these special units, attributed much after they were introduced, and also put forth a summary of the arguments supporting various cases for making specific physical interpretations of the meanings of some of these units. The new aspects we discuss are a possible physical basis for the Stoney units, their link to the Planck units, and also the importance of Planck units for thermodynamical quantities in the context of quantum gravity.