Why do we observe a weak force? The hierarchy problem in the multiverse

2010/10/13 by Oram Gedalia, Alejandro Jenkins, Gilad Pérez +1 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Neutrino Physics Research #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #hep-ph #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.83.115020

openalex publication_date 2011/06/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Unless the scale of electroweak symmetry breaking is stabilized dynamically, most of the universes in a multiverse theory will lack an observable weak nuclear interaction. Such ``weakless universes'' could support intelligent life based on organic chemistry, as long as other parameters are properly adjusted. By taking into account the seemingly unrelated flavor dynamics that address the hierarchy of quark masses and mixings, we show that such weakless (but hospitable) universes can be far more common than universes like ours. The gauge hierarchy problem therefore calls for a dynamical (rather than anthropic) solution.

Citations

• Review of Particle Physics
• Commutator of the Quark Mass Matrices in the Standard Electroweak Model and a Measure of MaximalCPNonconservation
• Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant
• A universe without weak interactions
• Note on the Frequency of Use of the Different Digits in Natural Numbers

Cited by

• Flavor Beyond the Standard Universe

Discussions

• Yes, this rough equality appears to be coincidence, at least according to known science. The two timescales are independent because they depend on different fundamental parameters. The neutron lifetim [stackexchange, 7 points]

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