Maths encyclopedia and lessons  
Search

Mathematics Encyclopedia and Lessons

 
     
 

Lessons

Popular
Subjects

algebra
arithmetic
calculus
equations
geometry
differential equations
trigonometry
number theory
probability theory
more
 

References

applied mathematics
mathematical games
mathematicians
more
 
 

SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1)

(Redirected from SU(3)XSU(2)XU(1))

In mathematics and mathematical physics, the Lie group SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) is the formulation of the Standard Model as a gauge theory with the gauge group SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) or SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1)/Z6 with a couple of fermion fields and a Higgs field, which is a (1,2)_{\frac{1}{2}} and/or a (1,2)_{-\frac{1}{2}}. SU(3) describes quantum chromodynamics, SU(2) describes the weak interaction* and U(1) describes hypercharge.

*Technically speaking, the Z and W bosons are described by a field which is really a linear combination of SU(2) and U(1). See electroweak.

There are three families of fermions, each consisting of the representations, (3,2)_{\frac{1}{6}} (q for left-handed quark), (\bar{3},1)_{\frac{1}{3}} (dc for the left-handed anti d-quark), (\bar{3},1)_{-\frac{2}{3}}(uc for the left handed up antiquark), (1,2)_{-\frac{1}{2}} (l for the left handed leptons), (1,1)1(ec for the left-handed positron) and (1,1)0c for the left-handed antineutrino, which is now known to exist. See Neutrino oscillation.).

The Higgs field acquires a VEV, resulting in a spontaneous symmetry breaking from [SU(2)\times U(1)]/\mathbb{Z}_2 or SU(2)\times U(1) to U(1)em.

Of course, calling the representations things like (3,2)_{\frac{1}{6}} is purely a physicist's convention, not a mathematician's convention, where representations are either labelled by Young tableaux or Dynkin diagrams with numbers on their vertices, but still, it is standard among high energy physicists.

Since the homotopy group

\pi_2\left(\frac{[SU(2)\times U(1)]/\mathbb{Z}_2}{U(1)_{em}}\right)=0

this model predicts no monopoles associated with the electroweak breaking scale. See Hooft-Polyakov monopole.

The Yukawa couplings of the scalar Higgs fields with the fermions produces the fermion masses after the Higgs field acquires a VEV.

See also grand unified theory.

01-04-2007 01:18:14
The contents of this article are licensed from Wikipedia.org
under the GNU Free Documentation License. How to see transparent copy