Description

Rating: ****

Tags: Physics, Lang:en

Summary

For a long time it has been realized that if there was a supersymmetry between the known particles it would have theoretical advantages in quantum theories. But where are the SUSY (Supersymmetrical partners) of existing particles, and why haven't we found them? Are they all for some reason much more massive than ordinary particles?

What if the supersymmetry existed not at the particle level but the quark level? In 1979, I began an exploration of such a model. Basically, I asked, could I build a description of all the known particles from a set of supersymmetric quarks? And would such a model allow one to predict the allowed and forbidden particle reactions, that is would it properly conserve the known quantum numbers. The short answer to these two questions appears to be yes and yes.

The first surprise from this supersymmetric quark model (SSQM) was that most of the known particles become the supersymmetric partners of other known particles: Electron s susy partner was W- vector boson, Photons SUSY partner was the Z neutral vector boson, etc.). Please note that since the supersymmetry is applied at the quark level, at the particle level fermions do not necessarily map to bosons under supersymmetry!

The observed symmetries between leptons and quarks has a natural explanation in supersymmetric quark model (SSQM) . Furthermore, I found that in SSQM leptonic particle reactions are nicely explained without requiring quarks to change types! Thus, the known particle reactions have a natural intuitive supersymmetric descriptions with conservation of quarks. (Only quark - antiquark annihilations can occur). This SSQM works so nicely I have learned to trust it as pneumonic aid for determining possible particle reactions and decays.

Light itself, had a description in the supersymmetric quark model. This description provides a natural model of photon interactions and suggests that a unified field theory may exist at the quark level.

The model also provides a mechanism that limits the quark generations to three. Furthermore, anything that been observed to happen in the standard model appears to have an explanation in the SSQM.

SSQM on the other hand predicts possibilities for at least seven types of dark matter (not predicted by standard model) that have limited interaction with ordinary matter. Indeed the model suggests some of the possible interactions to look for, and types of particles that would be involved. Under the SSQM, gravity is seen as a quantum exchange force between similar quarks, so both matter and dark matter naturally interacts equally through graviton and gravitino particles.

To be a successful model, the SSQM would require a rework of major known physics descriptions. As SSQM currently stands there is no way to calculate various particle reaction rates from it. Also, it is hard to understand how if the electron contains quarks they don't interact strongly with strong force. Perhaps, a suitably reworked physics description and understanding would allow this to occur. One might argue that although the physics in such a model might appear somewhat strange to us, such a description must exist.

As I place this model out into the world. I don't claim that it is the answer to everything, indeed, the model is riddled with difficulties. I've had fun with it, and hope other folks do to. It raises enough possibilities that I think SSQM has potential to inspire more experimental physics. Lastly, there is no heavy mathematics nor detailed physics knowledge required.... this is a popular exposition.

**