Lorentz-type internal symmetry

An internal symmetry, which is based on a generalization of SU(3) in analogy to the external Poincaré group, is proposed for elementary particles. The so-called exact symmetry limit is assumed to be valid in some intrinsic "rest frame," while the symmetry breaking is geometrically obtained by leaving this frame by some defined SU(3) boosts. The baryon number, which SU(3) does not fix for a given representation, can be defined here in analogy to the ordinary helicity. Thus it can be used to characterize some restricted SU(3) representations which provide the basis for a generalized quark model. Two kinds of quarks exist in the theory: the conventional ones and pseudoquarks possessing unexpected leptonic-like properties. For the quarks of the first kind strong currents are constructed and a strong interaction model, built as local couplings of those currents, is also presented. The model is consistent with dual quark diagrams and contains a mathematical mechanism by which n quarks and n̄ antiquarks enter an interaction vertex only if n-n̄≡0 (mod 3). Finally the mass operator is discussed in the light of the proposed symmetry.