The Standard Model as a 2T-physics Theory

Abstract

New developments in 2T-physics, that connect 2T-physics field theory directly to the real world, are reported in this talk. An action is proposed in field theory in 4+2 dimensions which correctly reproduces the Standard Model (SM) in 3+1 dimensions (and no junk). Everything that is known to work in the SM still works in the emergent 3+1 theory, but some of the problems of the SM get resolved. The resolution is due to new restrictions on interactions inherited from 4+2 dimensions that lead to some interesting physics and new points of view not discussed before in 3+1 dimensions. In particular the strong CP violation problem is resolved without an axion, and the electro-weak symmetry breakdown that generates masses requires the participation of the dilaton, thus relating the electro-weak phase transition to other phase transitions (such as evolution of the universe, vacuum selection in string theory, etc.) that also require the participation of the dilaton. The underlying principle of 2T-physics is the local symmetry Sp(2,R) under which position and momentum become indistinguishable at any instant. This principle inevitably leads to deep consequences, one of which is the two-time structure of spacetime in which ordinary 1-time spacetime is embedded. The proposed action for the Standard Model in 4+2 dimensions follows from new gauge symmetries in field theory related to the fundamental principles of Sp(2,R). These gauge symmetries thin out the degrees of freedom from 4+2 to 3+1 dimensions without any Kaluza-Klein modes.