Pion and muon mass difference : a determinning factor in elementary particle mass distribution

1. Abstract The most fundamental to the elementary particle is the mass they posses and it would be of importance to explore a possible relationship amongst their masses. Here, an attempt is made to investigate this important aspect irrespective of their nature or scheme of classification. We show that there exists a striking tendency for successive mass differences between elementary particles to be close integral/half integral multiple of the masss diffrence between a neutral pion and a muon. Thus indicating discreteness in the nature of the mass occuring at the elementary particle level. Further, this mass difference of 29.318 MeV is found to be common to the mass spectra of leptons and baryons, implying thereby existance of a basic mechanism linking elementary particles responding to different interactions. Explaining the nature and generation of the observed masses of the elementary particles remains an outstanding probem in the modern physics. Experimental observations reveal a wide distribution in the observed masses of the elementary particles with no apparent preferred order. Some studies have related the elementary particle masses to their established quantum numbers whereas others have been mere empirical examimination of their masses in search of some general systematics 1−10. Boson and fermion masses were found to be respectively integral and half integral multiple of 1 α electron masses, α being the fine structure constant 11. On the other hand, in the empirical mass formulla of Frosch 12 the elementary particle masses have been obtained through integral multiplication of thrice the mass of electron.