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If the Weak Were Strong and the Strong Were Weak
by Nakarin Lohitsiri, David Tong
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Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Nakarin Lohitsiri · David Tong |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.08221v1 (pdf) |
| Date submitted: | 2019-08-06 02:00 |
| Submitted by: | Tong, David |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics |
| Ontological classification | |
|---|---|
| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
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| Approach: | Theoretical |
Abstract
We explore the phase structure of the Standard Model as the relative strengths of the SU(2) weak force and SU(3) strong force are varied. With a single generation of fermions, the structure of chiral symmetry breaking suggests that there is no phase transition as we interpolate between the SU(3)-confining phase and the SU(2)-confining phase. Remarkably, the massless left-handed neutrino, familiar in our world, morphs smoothly into a massless right-handed down-quark. With multiple generations, a similar metamorphosis occurs, but now proceeding via a phase transition. In the second half of the paper we introduce a two-parameter extension of the Standard Model, a chiral gauge theory with gauge group U(1) x Sp(r) x SU(N). We again explore the phase structure of the theory as the relative strengths of the Sp(r) and SU(N) gauge couplings vary.
Current status:
Reports on this Submission
Report #2 by Anonymous (Referee 2) on 2019-9-19 (Invited Report)
- Cite as: Anonymous, Report on arXiv:1907.08221v1, delivered 2019-09-19, doi: 10.21468/SciPost.Report.1190
Strengths
1. Clear and well written
2. answers an interesting question with interesting results
Report
The authors study what happens when the weak interactions of the standard model (and a variety of closely related models) become stronger than the strong interactions. The find that the low energy physics is smooth for one generation but has either a discontinuity or intermediate phase for more than one generation. This is a delightful paper and should certainly be published.
Requested changes
1. it would be nice for younger readers if the authors could provide references for `t Hooft anomaly matching and the SU(2) anomaly discussed at the bottom of page four
typos:
2. "describes" near the bottom of page three has an extra "s"
3. page nine: "this is condensate in breaks" should be "this condensate breaks"
4. bottom of page thirteen: "The are" should be "They are"