Chapter 2
Going Beyond the Standard Model
B. G. Sidharth
Abstract In this communication we had argued that we could account for the
shortcomings of the standard model by including noncommutative geometry
which could lead to a non-zero (electron) neutrino mass.
At that point in time it was widely accepted that the standard model of particle
physics is the most complete theory and yet there have been frantic efforts to go
beyond the standard model to overcome its shortcomings. Some of these are:
1. In the theory prevalent at that time, it was stated that it fails to deliver the mass to
the neutrino which thus remains a massless particle.
2. This apart, it did not include gravity, which is otherwise one of the four fundamental interactions.
3. We had to keep in mind the hierarchy problem viz., the wide range of masses for
the elementary particles or even for the quarks.
4. It appears that other as of yet undiscovered particles exist which could change the
picture, for example, in supersymmetry in which the particles have their supersymmetric counterparts.
5. The standard model has no place for dark matter, which on the other hand has not
yet been definitely found. Nor is there place for dark energy.
6. Finally, the 18 odd arbitrary constants which creep into the theory need to be
explained.
There are however obvious shortcomings which could be addressed in a relatively
simple manner which could enable us to go beyond the standard model. Let us start
with the standard model Lagrangian
B. G. Sidharth (*)
Birla Science Centre, Hyderabad, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
B. G. Sidharth et al. (eds.), Fundamental Physics and Physics Education Research,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52923-9_2
17
Going Beyond the Standard Model
B. G. Sidharth
Abstract In this communication we had argued that we could account for the
shortcomings of the standard model by including noncommutative geometry
which could lead to a non-zero (electron) neutrino mass.
At that point in time it was widely accepted that the standard model of particle
physics is the most complete theory and yet there have been frantic efforts to go
beyond the standard model to overcome its shortcomings. Some of these are:
1. In the theory prevalent at that time, it was stated that it fails to deliver the mass to
the neutrino which thus remains a massless particle.
2. This apart, it did not include gravity, which is otherwise one of the four fundamental interactions.
3. We had to keep in mind the hierarchy problem viz., the wide range of masses for
the elementary particles or even for the quarks.
4. It appears that other as of yet undiscovered particles exist which could change the
picture, for example, in supersymmetry in which the particles have their supersymmetric counterparts.
5. The standard model has no place for dark matter, which on the other hand has not
yet been definitely found. Nor is there place for dark energy.
6. Finally, the 18 odd arbitrary constants which creep into the theory need to be
explained.
There are however obvious shortcomings which could be addressed in a relatively
simple manner which could enable us to go beyond the standard model. Let us start
with the standard model Lagrangian
B. G. Sidharth (*)
Birla Science Centre, Hyderabad, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
B. G. Sidharth et al. (eds.), Fundamental Physics and Physics Education Research,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52923-9_2
17