ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the possibility that the nine known strongly interacting vector mesons comprise a unitary octet and a unitary singlet. Symmetry breakdown is assumed to result from a mixing of the singlet with the T = Y = 0 member of the octet. It shows that the couplings of the vector mesons are otherwise invariant under the transformations of the eightfold way. The first interaction couples the singlet vecton and the octet vectons, the second interaction involves only the octet vectons and is D type. The hypothesis of eightfold symmetry broken principally by ωφ mixing is compatible with the present experimental situation. In particular, the theory can accomodate any value of ϵ, so that a great disparity between ω and φ production in pion experiments is possible.
