Planck temperature

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Planck temperature (TP) is the unit of temperature in the system of natural units known as Planck units.

It serves as the defining unit of the Planck temperature scale. In this scale the Planck temperature = 1, absolute zero = 0, and all other temperatures are some decimal of TP. For example, 0°C = 1.928 × 10-30TP.

Contents

[edit] Definition

The Planck temperature is defined as:

T_P = \frac{m_P c^2}{k} = \sqrt{\frac{\hbar c^5}{G k^2}} = 1.416833(85) × 1032 K

where:

The two digits between the parentheses denote the standard error of the last two digits of the estimated value.[1]

[edit] Significance

As for most of Planck units, a Planck temperature of 1 (unity) is a fundamental limit of quantum theory, in combination with gravitation, as presently understood. At temperatures greater than or equal to TP, current physical theory breaks down because we lack a theory of quantum gravity.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "CODATA Value: Planck temperature". The NIST Reference on Constants, Units, and Uncertainty. NIST. http://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/cuu/Value?plktmp. Retrieved 2011-10-12. 
  2. ^ Nova: Absolute Hot

[edit] External links

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