New physics from electric charge quantization

Journal Article · Thu Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Modern Physics Letters A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1142/S0217732391000543· OSTI ID:5072375

Foot, R ^[1]

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1. Physics Dept., The Univ., Southampton S09 5NH (GB)

Electric charge quantization is re-examined in the standard model. For one generation of fermions, electric charge is quantized in the standard model (SM). Electric charge quantization results from the structure of the Yukawa Lagrangian and the cancellation of the SU(2){sup 2}{sub L}U(1){sub y} and U(1){sup 3}{sub y} anomalies. The question that will be addressed in this paper, is what happens to this result when more than one generation of fermions is included. The case of three generations is particularly important since this corresponds to the SM. It has been shown that electric charge de-quantization arises when the Lagrangian possesses independent anomaly free global U(1){sub y} symmetries. By independent, we mean that the U(1){sub y} symmetry is independent of the gauge symmetries G. By anomaly free, we mean that the U(1){sub y}G{sup 2}, U(1){sup 2}{sub y}, G and U(1){sup 3}{sub y} anomalies are canceled (where G = SU(3){sub c} {circle times} SU(2){sub L} {circle times} U(1){sub y}). Such symmetries may be called hidden local symmetries since they may be gauged. The reason that electric charge de-quantization results is that there is an arbitrarines in the definition of the hypercharge since cos{phi}Y + sin{phi}Y{prime} is an equally good choice for the gauge U(1){sub y}. From these considerations it is easy to see that electric charge is quantized in the one-generation standard model since there are no independent anomaly free U(1){sub y} symmetries. Electric charge is de-quantized when right--handed neutrinos are added. This is because the Lagrangian then has a global BL symmetry which is independent and anomaly free.

• OSTI ID: 5072375
• Journal Information: Modern Physics Letters A; (United States), Vol. 6:7; ISSN 0217-7323
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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