Generalized Gell-Mann–Nishijima Formula

The research is situated within the well-established paradigm of particle physics, which uses gauge theories and the mathematics of Lie groups (specifically SU(n) symmetries) to classify elementary particles and describe their interactions. The Gell-Mann–Nishijima formula is a foundational component of this paradigm, connecting particles' internal quantum numbers to their electric charge. This paper works entirely within this framework, accepting its core principles as given.

This paper is a clear example of Normal Science. It does not challenge the core tenets of gauge theory but rather engages in "puzzle-solving" by refining an existing tool. The authors create a generalized version of the Gell-Mann–Nishijima formula to extend its application to arbitrary-dimensional multiplets, including hypothetical exotic particles that do not couple to known matter. This work aims to increase the scope and precision of the current paradigm by providing a more powerful calculational method, which is a characteristic activity of normal scientific progress as described by Kuhn.