Unified Spin Gauge-Model and the top-Quark Mass

Spin gauge models use a real Clifford algebraic structure R(p,q) associated with a real manifold of dimension p+q to describe the fundamental interactions of elementary particles. This review provides a comparison between those models and the standard model, indicating their similarities and differences. By contrast with the standard model, the spin gauge model based on R(3,8) generates intermediate boson mass terms without the need to use the Higgs-Kibble mechanism and produces a precise prediction for the mass of the top quark. The potential of this model to account for exactly three families of fermions is considered.