Origin and hierarchy of elementary particle masses

Determine the precise mechanism by which the Higgs field generates masses for elementary particles in the Standard Model and explain why different particles acquire different masses, thereby resolving the open problem of the origin and hierarchy of particle masses.

Background

The paper reviews the Majorana equation and explores whether its structure can illuminate the longstanding issue of particle mass values. While the Standard Model attributes mass generation to the Higgs mechanism, the detailed workings that lead to the specific mass spectrum across different particles remain unresolved.

In Section 4, the author explicitly notes that despite significant research efforts, the exact mechanism and reasons for mass differences among particles are not fully understood. This motivates the paper’s exploration of interpreting the Majorana equation in terms of harmonic oscillators and connecting it to empirical mass formulas.

References

But, despite the work of thousands of researchers, it is not clear exactly how it works and why some particles are more massive than others. Therefore, the problem of particle masses remains open.

— The 1932 Majorana equation: a forgotten but surprisingly modern particle theory (2404.01357 - Nanni, 1 Apr 2024) in Section 4, The Problem of Particle Masses