Baryons in O(4) and the vibron model

The structure of the reported excitation spectra of light unflavored baryons is described in terms of multispin valued Lorentz group representations of the so called Rarita-Schwinger (RS) type (K/2 K/2) x [(1/2,0) + (0,1/2)] with K = 1,3, and 5. We first motivate the legitimacy of such a pattern as fundamental fields as they emerge in the decomposition of triple fermion constructs into Lorentz representations. We then study the baryon realization of RS fields as composite systems by means of the quark version of the U(4) symmetric diatomic rovibron model. In using the U(4)superset ofO(4)superset ofO(3)superset ofO(2) reduction chain, we are able to reproduce the quantum numbers and mass splittings of the above resonance assemblies. We present essentials of the four dimensional angular momentum algebra, and construct electromagnetic tensor operators. The predictive power of the model is illustrated by ratios of reduced probabilities concerning electric de-excitations of various resonances to the nucleon.