Origin of Fermion Identity and the Yukawa Hierarchy

Determine the dynamical mechanism that sets the identities of fermions—specifically, establish the origin and scale of the Yukawa couplings that distinguish the electron from the top quark and yield the observed hierarchy of fermion masses and mixings in the Standard Model.

Background

The paper notes that at least twenty of the Standard Model’s parameters pertain to flavor (masses and mixings), yet no theory currently explains their values or organizing principles. Even if the Higgs mechanism generates masses, the reasons for the numerical patterns remain unknown.

Understanding the mechanism behind fermion identity would address a central gap in the Standard Model, with implications for unification, CP violation, and possible new symmetries or dynamics.