Re: The Electron

[Tom Manz <tmanz@PURDUE.EDU>]

The electron is not well understood. No one precisely knows why it has the
charge or mass that it does.

Understanding the structure of the electron is one of the most difficult of
all physical questions. I presume that it will have to wait to be answered
until a more fundamental theory of physics is discovered which unifies
gravity and electromagnetism.

String theory does not explain the fundamental charge or mass of the
electron.

In fact, very little is known about why elementary particles have the
properties that they do. In the Standard Model, the masses and charges of
the particles have to be put in, they cannot be calculated.

No current theory can predict the charge to mass ratio of the electron with
good accuracy from first principles.

----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Green" <green320@RCN.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 4:01 PM
Subject: The Electron


> How much do we really know about the electron?  What, if anything do we
know
> about it's inner structure, charge distribution, rotational speed, or if
it
> spins at all for that matter?  Why do electrons need to be paired as up
and
> down spins?  Fundamental answers are preferred, and those containing
> references to "some guy's theory" will be summarily docked points (unless
> the theory is in fact based on experimental data of course).  Conjecture
is
> also welcome (but I imagine someone will take issue with it).  I'm
wondering
> if we shrug our shoulders at some questions because we really know less
than
> we think we do.  So, what say ye?
>
> Josh Green