Electric charge as a quantum of flux

Ratio of electron charge radius and Compton wavelength of electron is known to be equal to the dimensionless electromagnetic coupling constant e2/ℏ c. It is pointed out that the coupling constant has two alternative interpretations: as a ratio of two angular momenta since Planck constant has the dimension of angular momentum, and two flux quanta e and hc/e. We argue that it has deep physical significance such that the electronic charge becomes flux itself and at a fundamental level fractional spin of quantized vortex. A unified perspective of the three interpretations of the coupling constant is presented invoking the new interpretation of the magnetic moment of the electron comprising three terms. A critical discussion on the magnetism and flux quantum is given and the implication on the spintronics is pointed out.