Self-Consistent Deviations from Unitary Symmetry *

A method of investigating the possible dynamic origin of symmetries among the strong interactions is illustrated by application to a model with vector mesons that are self-consistently bound states of one another. The SU ₃ model, with eight vector mesons, is concentrated upon. All possible types of first-order perturbations are treated in the ladder approximation, and some second-order effects are also considered. The results emerging from a qualitative discussion uniquely suggest the possibility (in addition to the degenerate mass solution) of a self-supporting small mass splitting structure of the type leading to the Gell-Mann-Okubo mass formula. Moreover, SU ₂ symmetry is necessarily retained, although the differentiation between charge and hypercharge is not possible in a theory which does not include electromagnetism.