Topcolor
Encyclopedia
In theoretical physics
, Topcolor is a model of dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking in which the top quark
and anti-top quark form a top quark condensate
and act effectively like the Higgs boson
. This is analogous to the phenomenon of superconductivity
.
Topcolor naturally involves an extension of the standard model
color gauge group to a product group SU
(3)xSU(3)xSU(3)x... One of the gauge groups contains
the top and bottom quarks, and has a sufficiently large coupling constant to cause the condensate to form. The topcolor model thus anticipates the idea of dimensional deconstruction
and extra space dimensions, as well as the large mass of the top quark. Topcolor, and its prediction of "topgluons," will be tested in coming experiments at the Large Hadron Collider
at CERN
.
Topcolor rescues the Technicolor
model from some of its difficulties in a scheme dubbed "Topcolor-assisted Technicolor."
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
, Topcolor is a model of dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking in which the top quark
Top quark
The top quark, also known as the t quark or truth quark, is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Like all quarks, the top quark is an elementary fermion with spin-, and experiences all four fundamental interactions: gravitation, electromagnetism, weak interactions, and...
and anti-top quark form a top quark condensate
Top quark condensate
In particle physics, the top quark condensate theory is an alternative to the Standard Model in which a fundamental scalar Higgs field is replaced by a composite field composed of the top quark and its antiquark. These are bound by a four-fermion interaction, analogous to Cooper pairs in a BCS...
and act effectively like the Higgs boson
Higgs boson
The Higgs boson is a hypothetical massive elementary particle that is predicted to exist by the Standard Model of particle physics. Its existence is postulated as a means of resolving inconsistencies in the Standard Model...
. This is analogous to the phenomenon of superconductivity
Superconductivity
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance occurring in certain materials below a characteristic temperature. It was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes on April 8, 1911 in Leiden. Like ferromagnetism and atomic spectral lines, superconductivity is a quantum...
.
Topcolor naturally involves an extension of the standard model
Standard Model
The Standard Model of particle physics is a theory concerning the electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear interactions, which mediate the dynamics of the known subatomic particles. Developed throughout the mid to late 20th century, the current formulation was finalized in the mid 1970s upon...
color gauge group to a product group SU
Special unitary group
The special unitary group of degree n, denoted SU, is the group of n×n unitary matrices with determinant 1. The group operation is that of matrix multiplication...
(3)xSU(3)xSU(3)x... One of the gauge groups contains
the top and bottom quarks, and has a sufficiently large coupling constant to cause the condensate to form. The topcolor model thus anticipates the idea of dimensional deconstruction
Dimensional deconstruction
In theoretical physics, dimensional deconstruction is a method to construct d-dimensional theories that behave as higher-dimensional theories in a certain range of energies...
and extra space dimensions, as well as the large mass of the top quark. Topcolor, and its prediction of "topgluons," will be tested in coming experiments at the Large Hadron Collider
Large Hadron Collider
The Large Hadron Collider is the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator. It is expected to address some of the most fundamental questions of physics, advancing the understanding of the deepest laws of nature....
at CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
.
Topcolor rescues the Technicolor
Technicolor (physics)
Technicolor theories are models of physics beyond the standard model that address electroweak symmetry breaking, the mechanism through which elementary particles acquire masses...
model from some of its difficulties in a scheme dubbed "Topcolor-assisted Technicolor."
See also
- Fermion condensate
- Technicolor (physics)Technicolor (physics)Technicolor theories are models of physics beyond the standard model that address electroweak symmetry breaking, the mechanism through which elementary particles acquire masses...
- Hierarchy problemHierarchy problemIn theoretical physics, a hierarchy problem occurs when the fundamental parameters of some Lagrangian are vastly different than the parameters measured by experiment. This can happen because measured parameters are related to the fundamental parameters by a prescription known as renormalization...
- Top Quark CondensateTop quark condensateIn particle physics, the top quark condensate theory is an alternative to the Standard Model in which a fundamental scalar Higgs field is replaced by a composite field composed of the top quark and its antiquark. These are bound by a four-fermion interaction, analogous to Cooper pairs in a BCS...