Has B-L some role in the mass matrix?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the role of the B-L (Baryon minus Lepton number) generator in the context of mass matrices within unified theories of leptons and quarks. Participants explore the implications of tracelessness in the product of B-L and mass matrices, particularly focusing on quark masses and their relationships to various theoretical frameworks, including GUT theories and lattice calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the matrix (B-L) x M can be traceless when considering only one color of light quarks, leading to intriguing implications for mass relationships.
  • Others argue that the trace of (B-L) x M should not equal zero, as it results in a non-traceless matrix when accounting for the differences in lepton and quark mass contributions.
  • A later reply questions the implications of renormalization scales on quark masses, suggesting that the equality may not hold at the GUT scale.
  • Participants discuss the significance of a particular lattice calculation that yields a charm mass differing from typical values, raising questions about the assumptions underlying that calculation.
  • There is mention of a known relationship between the trace of B x M and the sum of specific quark masses, which has been observed previously.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the tracelessness of the (B-L) x M matrix, with some asserting it can be traceless under certain conditions, while others maintain it cannot. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these differing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that quark and lepton masses depend on the renormalization scale, which may affect the validity of certain claims at different energy scales, particularly the GUT scale.

arivero
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So, B-L is a U(1) generator extracted out of some unified theories of leptons and quarks and in such theories it is traceless, with B=1/3 and L=1, and the trace taken over a "four coloured" multiplet, namely a lepton and three colored quarks.

Now, I am amazed that there is another Matrix that happens to be traceless, and it is the product of B-L times Mass, when taken only with a single colour of light quarks, I mean we have

Tr (L x M )=sum of lepton masses = [itex]1882.98 \pm 0.16[/itex] MeV
Tr (B x M) = 1/3 sum of udscb masses= [itex]1852.37 \pm 13.13[/itex] MeV

Moreover, there is at least one lattice team out of the consensus for charm quark,
http://arxiv.org/abs/1311.2793 and with the quark values of this paper, we would have Tr(B x M) = 1882.23 It is also true that the same group has another paper with a slightly higher b mass, but with a compatible error anyway.

So it seems that discarding the top quark, the matrix (B - L) x M is compatible with tracelessness when looking only to one colour.

The question is, are there GUT theories using this product matrix? or topcolor or technicolor theories? Georgi-Jarlskog?
 
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Wouldn't then the Tr[ (B-L) x M ] = Tr[B x M ] - Tr[L x M] != 0 ?
 
ChrisVer said:
Wouldn't then the Tr[ (B-L) x M ] = Tr[B x M ] - Tr[L x M] != 0 ?

Yep, that is my point; it is intriguing that discarding the top quark, (B-L) times Yukawas happens to be a traceless matrix. I was not putting explicitly this way because one could argue that we still need to account for three colours. On the other hand, colour seems to commute with the yukawas.

Also putting explicitly one sees that the sum in each sector is about two times the nucleon mass, or if you wish about six times the "current quark mass". I think this also is a hint connecting the mass mechanism to colour.
 
I meant not-equal to zero, so it won't be a traceless matrix...
[itex]1852.37-1882.98 =- 30.61 \pm 13.13[/itex]
 
ChrisVer said:
I meant not-equal to zero, so it won't be a traceless matrix...
[itex]1882.98- 1852.37 = 30.61 \pm 13.13[/itex]

Ah, sorry. It is equal to zero with paper 1311.2793 and from reading this paper and the alternative lattice calculations I was considering that perhaps the charm mass is undervaluated. Note that Erler keeps this paper listed in the most current review, surely because its calculation of the strong constant is more coincident with the electroweak fit than the other calculations. But even if not valid -or if other discussions of scale invariance and renormalization apply- it is still very near of zero, and then naturalness a la 't Hoft could be invoked: if a quantity is very near of zero, we should look for a symmetry protecting it.
 
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There are probably some subtleties here: quark masses depend on the renormalization scale. Lattice calculations are usually renormalized around 2-3 GeV, pretty low compared to the GUT scale. Your equality may not hold at the GUT scale.
 
The_Duck said:
There are probably some subtleties here: quark masses depend on the renormalization scale.
And lepton masses too.
 
Very interesting. I wonder why the outlier paper has a charm mass that is 75 MeV heavier than is typical? What assumption is different? Is it because it is Nf=2+1+1 rather than Nf=6?

It is also worth noting that Tr (B x M) = 1/3 sum of udscb masses= 1852.37±13.13 MeV has a value that is identical within the MOE to 1/3 sum of scb masses, a relationship that has been known for some time now. And, the 1/3 sum of scb masses is comparing triple to triple and so doesn't have to concern itself with the unexplained omission of the t mass from the trace.
 

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