The prime number 137 had continuously occupied Pauli's mind. It is an approximate value for a constant appearing in the fine structure theory of atomic spectra which in its theoretical expression ties together electromagnetism, relativity and quantum theory. Pauli saw the fine structure theory of spectra as a key in understanding the deepest contemporary problems of theoretical physics. For that reason the number 137 possessed a mysterious attraction for him.
K. V. Laurikainen, Beyond the Atom: The Philosophical Thought of Wolfgang Pauli
atoms, fine-structure-constant, history-of-science, physics, wolfgang-pauli