Mathematical Principles of Theoretical Physics

(Rick Simeone) #1

1.12 Weakton Model of Elementary Particles


Motivation and requirements of weaktons


The matter in the Universe is made up of a number of fundamental constituents, called
elementary particles. Based on the current knowledge of particle physics, all forms of matter
are made up of 6 leptons and 6 quarks, and their antiparticles, which are treated as elementary
particles.
Great achievements and insights have been made for last 100 years on the understanding
of the structure of subatomic particles and on their interactions; see among many others
(Halzen and Martin, 1984 ;Griffiths, 2008 ;Kane, 1987 ;Quigg, 2013 ). However, there are
still many longstanding open questions and challenges. Here are a few fundamental questions
which are certainly related to the deepest secrets of our Universe. One such problem is that
why leptons do not participate in strong interactions.
The starting point of the study is the puzzling decay and reaction behavior of subatomic
particles. For example, the electron radiations and the electron-positron annihilation into
photons or quark-antiquark pair clearly shows that there must be interior structure of elec-
trons, and the constituents of an electron contribute to themaking of photon or the quark in
the hadrons formed in the process. In fact, all sub-atomic decays and reactions show clearly
the following conclusion:


There must be interior structure of charged leptons, quarksand mediators.

This conclusion motivates us to propose a model for sub-lepton, sub-quark, and sub-
mediators. It is clear that any such model should obey four basic requirements:


1) Mass generation mechanism.

2) Consistency of quantum numbers for both elementary and composite particles.

3) Exclusion of nonrealistic compositions of the elementary particles.

4) Weakton confinement.

The model should lead to consistency of masses for both elementary particles, which
we call weaktons, and composite particles (the quarks, leptons and mediators). Since the
mediators, the photonγand the eight gluons are all massless, a natural requirementis that


the proposed elementary particles—weaktons— are massless. Namely, these
proposed elementary particles must have zero rest mass.

5.3.3 Weaktons and their quantum numbers.


Careful examinations of the above requirements and subatomic decays/reactions lead us
to propose six elementary particles, which we call weaktons, and their anti-particles:


(1.12.1)


w∗, w 1 , w 2 , νe, νμ, ντ,
w∗, w 1 , w 2 , νe, νμ, ντ,

whereνe,νμ,ντare the three generation neutrinos, andw∗,w 1 ,w 2 are three new particles,
which we callw-weaktons. These weaktons in (1.12.1) are endowed with the quantum num-
bers: electric chargeQe, weak chargeQw, strong chargeQs, weak color chargeQc, baron

Free download pdf