On the uniqueness of the Standard Model of particle physics

The running strong coupling $\alpha(Q)_s$ and the gluon propagator from QCD have been compared to similar quantities in the quanton model, a generalisation of QED with massless fermions (quantons) and scalar coupling of boson fields. In the latter model a series of bound states (which can be related to different flavours) have been obtained. Assuming a weighting of their momentum distributions with the average momentum $\tilde Q_i$ of each state, a running of the coupling $\alpha(Q)$ is obtained, which is in quantitative agreement with $\alpha_s(Q)$ from QCD. Also with a similar weighting the gluon propagator from lattice QCD simulations is well described. This indicates clearly that QCD and thus the Standard Model is not a unique description of fundamental interactions. Different from the Standard Model, the quanton model is simple and yields bound states with correct masses. This may indicate that this model yields a more realistic description of fundamental forces.