Restored symmetries, quark puzzle, and the Pomeron as a Josephson current

Abstract

A special type of symmetry is studied, wherein manifest invariance is restored by direct integration over a set of spontaneously broken ground states. In addition to invariant states and multiplets these symmetry realizations are shown to lead, in general, to clustering effects and quantum supercurrents. A systematic exploration of these symmetry realizations is proposed, mostly in physical situations where it has so far been believed that the only consequences of the symmetry are invariant states and multiplets. An application of these ideas to the quark system yields a possible explanation for the unobservability of free quarks and an interpretation of the Pomeron as a generalized Josephson current. Furthermore, the “narrowing gap mechanism” suggests an explanation for the behavior of thee ⁺ e ⁻ → hadrons cross section and a speculation on an approaching phase transition in hadronic production and the observation of free quarks.