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November 19th, 2007

In Lisi’s theory, there are 20 elements out of the 248 basis elements of the E₈ Lie group that do not correspond to known particles/forces. These require the existence of new particles and force interactions, though the exact number of new particles will depend on the mixing of these basis states with those for the conventionally known particles (such mixing is exactly defined by the structure of E₈ but not yet determined). The new fields include two new quantum numbers in the Pati-Salam model, a new Higgs scalar, as well as new fields that mix leptons and quarks and have forces that vary depending on fermion family. Hence, the theory also predicts proton decay. To be consistent with previous observations, Lisi suggests that the masses of some of the resulting extra particles would need to be too large to have been observed by current particle accelerators. The mass of at least one of these extra particles is theoretically within the detectable range of the soon-to-be-completed Large Hadron Collider.

[wikipedia.org, arXiv]