Not too long ago we discussed this paper on one of our informal seminars. The paper is called “The eighteen arbitrary parameters of the standard model in your everyday life” by R. N. Cahn, and the paper dates back to 1996. It is an RMP colloquia paper.
I think it still reads great and it explains what are the mysteries of particle physics and how making small changes in the Standard Model could lead to completely different physics.
Well, in those days there were only 18 parameters in the standard model. Now that we have neutrino masses there are a couple more. Because of this, by many standards, this is considered prehistory. On the other hand, one can take this as a benchmark to calibrate all the accomplishments of particle physics experiments since then.
What I like about the paper is that in some sense it gives a feeling for how non-generic the parameters of the standard model are.
FYI, the link you provided is subscription-only, but there is a free PS online at
http://www.hep.yorku.ca/menary/misc/eighteen_parameters_of_sm.ps
(Personally, I prefer PDF, but I couldn’t find one.)
Actually here’s a PDF:
http://www.hep.yorku.ca/menary/misc/eighteen_parameters_of_sm.pdf
Hi Eugene:
Thanks for the extra links.