A possible unification of Newton's and Coulomb's forces

Abstract

We have considered electric charge as the fourth component of the particle momentum in five-dimensional space–time. The fifth dimension has been compactified on a circle with an extremely small radius determined from the fundamental physics constants. First, we have given equations in the framework of five-dimensional special relativity and determined the corresponding reduction to four-dimensional space–time. Then, in order to obtain an appropriate charge-to-mass ratio and to avoid the Fourier modes problem, we have considered the propagation of an off-mass shell particle in the five-dimensional space–time which can be interpreted as the motion of an on-mass shell particle in the four-dimensional world we experience. As an example, we have discussed the five-dimensional kinematic equations associated with the electron-positron annihilation process into two photons. Finally, the consequences on the gravitational interaction between two elementary charged particles has been studied. As a main result, we have obtained a unification of Newton's gravitational and Coulomb's electrostatic forces.