An Interpretation ofe2mc2andhmc

In this paper a point of view is presented according to which the quantities $m$ and $e$, the mass and the charge of elementary particles, need not enter into the electrodynamics and the quantum mechanics of electrons, positrons and photons. The only constants entering into the equations, rewritten in this way, are the velocity of light and two independent lengths, namely: $a=\frac{e^2}{m{c}^2}$, and $b=\frac{h}{\mathrm{mc}}$. The first of these lengths determines the scale of electrodynamic phenomena, and has no especial relation to electronic radius. The second determines the scale of quantum-mechanical phenomena. In the absence of particles electromagnetic phenomena have no definite scale. This fact, together with the possibility of creation of electron-positron pairs, leads to the belief that a theory of interactions of electrons, positrons, and photons, giving as a by-product a derivation of the ratio $\frac{a}{b}=\alpha =\frac{e^2}{\mathrm{hc}}$, could be formulated without introducing the two other pure numbers $\beta =\frac{m}{M}$ and $\gamma =\frac{G{m}^2}{e^2}$. This theory is envisaged as a limiting theory, obtainable from the future general theory by putting $\beta =\gamma =0\mathrm{}$. It is then considered from the point of view of the necessity of giving up space-time framework for the description of physical phenomena. It is concluded that the first limiting theory should not necessitate abolition of space and time.