Novel Theory of the Structure of Elementary Particles

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new relativistic covariant space-time theory where elementary particles are composite systems of massless particles, explaining their internal structure, spin, charge, and mass without requiring the Higgs mechanism.

Contribution

It proposes a novel 4D space-time approach modeling elementary particles as bound states of massless constituents, eliminating the need for the Higgs field to explain mass.

Findings

Massive particles are stable only if trapped in a 4D potential well.

Electrons and positrons are modeled as two-photon systems.

The theory reproduces the hydrogen atom's energy levels and the Lamb shift.

Abstract

A novel theory of the structure of elementary particles is outlined. The proposed relativistic covariant space-time approach supposes that all massive particles are composite particles formed by massless elementary particles with opposite four-dimensional (4D) helicity. The attraction between two basic particles originates from their mutual 4D density, which depends only on their 4D distance. The approach enables a consistent description of the internal structure of massive elementary particles including the origin of their spin, their mass, and the sign of their charge. The 4D rotational Hamiltonian depends on the hyper-symmetric potential obtained by using the mutual density for the source term of the 4D Poisson equation. The rotational eigenfunctions depend on the 4D radius and on three angles, one of which is imaginary. This angle accounts for the rotation of the time-like axis with respect to the three-dimensional subspace representing a Lorentz transformation. We obtain the wave equation of the basic particles by supposing that they are propagating with the speed of light. Such subatomic massless particles are photons, basic-quarks, and neutrinos, which we assume to be massless if they are free. The results of the analytical calculations show that massive particles can only be stable if the potential is a 4D well trapping the constituents. As a result, we do not need the Higgs field for explaining the origin of the mass. In particular, we show that electrons and positrons are such two-component systems each consisting of two photons. The eigenvalue of the 4D rotational energy determines the mass of the composite particle. We prove the relevance of the novel theory by revisiting the hydrogen atom. The resulting energy eigenvalues depend on three quantum numbers having no degenerated energy states. In particular, it provides the Lamb shift.