4 ms·
The standard model is not a complete model of all elementary particles. It is a model of all known elementary particles. There are reasonable outstanding predi
by gibybo 11y ago
The standard model is not a complete model of all elementary particles. It is a model of all known elementary particles.
There are reasonable outstanding predictions for:
- More Higgs bosons
- A Graviton
- Another 17 super symmetrical pairs to the existing 17 known particles.
- One or more dark matter particles
We don't know which (if any) of those will end up coming true, but they could all add new particles to the standard model. It is also entirely reasonable that new particles outside of the ones I listed could be added and incorporated into the model.
- dukwon 11y agoEverything you list there is called physics beyond the Standard Model. It does not predict any of those.
- gibybo 11y agoI didn't mean to imply the standard model was the thing predicting them. Only that scientists have predicted them and if they were to be discovered, the standard model would likely be extended to include them.
- Coincoin 11y agoI'm greatly oversimplifying: Suppose you have a series of 10 pairs of number coming from the universe, lets call them particles. After crunching the numbers you discover they fit perfectly in a linear function y=mx+b. Yep, two constants, one parameter and you can explain all those particles. Obviously, more particles could exist if they fit your curve, and you in fact discover, in time, 15 more of them! Wow the model works, it predicted a bunch of awesome stuff. You and your peers name it "Standard Model" since it's so good. It's still just a name though. Now suppose one more particle comes up and it doesn't fit the line at all. Sure you could "extend" the model by converting it to a Laplace polynomial with 24 more coefficient just to accomodate that new particle, but you can't honnestly say it's the same model anymore.