The standard model and its generalizations in the Epstein-Glaser approach to renormalization theory

We continue our study of non-Abelian gauge theories in the framework of the Epstein-Glaser approach to renormalization theory. We consider the case when massive spin-1 bosons are present in the theory and we modify appropriately the analysis of the origin of the gauge invariance performed in a preceding paper in the case of null-mass spin-1 bosons. Then we are able to extend a result of Deutsch and Scharf concerning the uniqueness of the standard model, consistent with renormalization theory. In fact we consider the most general case, i.e. the consistent interaction of r spin-1 bosons, and we do not impose any restrictions on the gauge group and the mass spectrum of the theory. We show that, besides the natural emergence of a group structure (as in the massless case), we obtain new conditions of a group theoretical nature, namely the existence of a certain representation of the gauge group associated to the Higgs fields. Some other mass relations connecting the structure constants of the gauge group and the masses of the bosons emerge naturally. The proof is carried out using the Epstein-Glaser approach to renormalization theory. (author)