On the uniqueness of the Standard Model of particle physics

TL;DR

This paper compares QCD and a simpler quanton model, showing they produce similar results for strong coupling and gluon propagator, suggesting the Standard Model may not be unique and simpler models could be more realistic.

Contribution

It introduces a quanton model that reproduces key QCD results, challenging the uniqueness of the Standard Model and proposing a simpler, potentially more accurate framework for fundamental interactions.

Findings

Quanton model matches QCD's running coupling $oldsymbol{ ext{alpha}_s(Q)}$.

Quanton model describes gluon propagator consistent with lattice QCD.

Standard Model may not be the only fundamental theory.

Abstract

The running strong coupling $\alpha(Q)_s$ and the gluon propagator from QCD have been compared to similar quantities in the quanton model, a generalisation of QED with massless fermions (quantons) and scalar coupling of boson fields. In the latter model a series of bound states (which can be related to different flavours) have been obtained. Assuming a weighting of their momentum distributions with the average momentum $\tilde Q_i$ of each state, a running of the coupling $\alpha(Q)$ is obtained, which is in quantitative agreement with $\alpha_s(Q)$ from QCD. Also with a similar weighting the gluon propagator from lattice QCD simulations is well described. This indicates clearly that QCD and thus the Standard Model is not a unique description of fundamental interactions. Different from the Standard Model, the quanton model is simple and yields bound states with correct masses. This may indicate that this model yields a more realistic description of fundamental forces.