Mass Quantization and the Upper Limit of Particle Mass

A model is proposed of particles living in two spaces, such that spacetime is complemented by an individual circular eigenspace of each particle. Two sources of particle mass are considered to exist in the eigenspace. The first source consists in the rotational energy of circulating mass quanta, this energy appears as main part of the invariant energy (rest energy) in spacetime. The circulating mass quanta build the `skeleton' of the particle and contribute 95 to 98 % of the particle mass. The second source of particle mass comes from the self-energy of circulating elementary charges. The self-energy is calculated as the Coulomb energy in a finite circular self-distance of a charge, such as the circumference of the circular motion. Different types of circulation produce electromagnetic, weak and fluctuating charges which represent different interaction capabilities and form the `dress' of the particle model. Neutrino masses are modelled as the difference between positive and negative mass quanta. The mass quantum is defined using data from the muon and equals approximately mQ ≈ mμ/32=3,3 MeV/c². The oscillation of neutrinos can be understood by assuming three neutrino types per generation with different circulation radii of the weak charges. The skeleton masses of mesons and other hadrons consist of mass quanta enhanced by charge clusters of different size. Particles carrying very heavy clusters are not realized in nature. The masses of the Z⁰ and the Higgs boson can be modelled only by assuming a split of very heavy clusters into two or three pieces. This result suggests the conjecture, that particle masses have an upper limit in the region of 400 GeV. The possible consequences on the strategy in high energy physics are discussed. While experiments directed towards the investigation of known particles (neutrinos, Higgs boson) appear as a sensible investment, the perspectives of searches for new particles in the TeV region appear doubtful.