Adjust parameters of Standard Model so only photons, e-, e+ remain?

In summary, if you adjust the parameters of the Standard Model to eliminate all the other particles, String Theory may be able to model a hypothetical universe with only photons, electrons, and positrons. However, because String Theory contains too many particle states, it may not be able to model a universe without strong or weak interactions.
  • #1
Spinnor
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Could you have a hypothetical universe with only photons, electrons, and positrons by adjusting the parameters of the Standard Model to eliminate all the "other" stuff?

If so is String Theory flexible enough to model a hypothetical universe with only photons, electrons, positrons, and Einsteins General Relativity?

Are the vibrating String Theory strings that represent a quark more complex in some sense then the String Theory strings that represent an electron?

Thanks for any help!
 
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  • #2
Spinnor said:
Are the vibrating String Theory strings that represent a quark more complex in some sense then the String Theory strings that represent an electron?
String Theory is a mathematical framework that, to date, has failed to make contact with the Standard Model or any portion of it. In fact, no one has succeeded in taking a String Theory model and calculating what particles it contains.
 
  • #3
String theory indeed has some indications of particles it contains. The problem of it, is that it contains way too many particle states than we have encountered...at least that's what I know.

As for the other particles, why do you ask that?
For example we know that we have mixing in quarks through the CKM matrix and this implies that we need at least 3 generations of quarks (which also allows us to insert the CP violation we observe).
A Standard Model missing quarks/gluons would lead in a world without strong interactions...The same I could say for the weak interactions...

The electrons/positrons can of course exist in a model, as well as the U(1) generators corresponding to photons, but the U(1) group is an abelian group and thus it cannot somehow absorb the extra information coming from non-abelian groups as SU(n)s
 
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  • #4
Spinnor said:
Could you have a hypothetical universe with only photons, electrons, and positrons by adjusting the parameters of the Standard Model to eliminate all the "other" stuff?
This model is called quantum electrodynamics. You just have to add electrons and positrons as particles.
 
  • #5
Bill_K said:
String Theory is a mathematical framework that, to date, has failed to make contact with the Standard Model or any portion of it. In fact, no one has succeeded in taking a String Theory model and calculating what particles it contains.

I wondered if trying to explain something simpler (like electrodynamics + relativity) might make the problem a bit easier?
 
  • #6
Since part of the goal of string theory is to reproduce the correct particle content of the SM, asking it to come up with a simpler but wrong particle content seems counterproductive.
 
  • #7
Vanadium 50 said:
Since part of the goal of string theory is to reproduce the correct particle content of the SM, asking it to come up with a simpler but wrong particle content seems counterproductive.
I think it would be an interesting step if the result is consistent with QED (or even QED+gravity).
 

1. What is the Standard Model?

The Standard Model is a theory in physics that describes the fundamental particles and interactions that make up the universe. It is the most accurate and widely accepted model for understanding the behavior of subatomic particles.

2. Why would we want to adjust the parameters of the Standard Model?

Scientists may want to adjust the parameters of the Standard Model in order to test its validity and accuracy. By modifying the parameters, we can see if the model still accurately describes the behavior of particles and interactions.

3. How can we adjust the parameters to only allow photons, electrons, and positrons?

This would require changing the values of the parameters that govern the behavior of other particles, such as quarks and gluons. By adjusting these parameters, we can restrict the interactions and decay processes that lead to the creation of other particles, leaving only photons, electrons, and positrons.

4. What would be the implications of adjusting the parameters to only allow photons, electrons, and positrons?

If such a modification to the Standard Model were possible, it would have significant implications for our understanding of particle physics and the behavior of the universe. It could potentially provide evidence for new theories or open up new avenues for research.

5. Has anyone successfully adjusted the parameters of the Standard Model to only allow photons, electrons, and positrons?

No, so far no one has been able to successfully modify the parameters of the Standard Model to only allow photons, electrons, and positrons. However, ongoing research and experiments continue to push the boundaries of our understanding and could potentially lead to such a breakthrough in the future.

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