Unravelling the Proton Mass Puzzle: A Novel Approach through Quark Vortex Dynamics and the Mushroom Model

The proton’s mass has long defied explanation through traditional quantum chromodynamics (QCD) models. Despite being composed of three valence quarks, their combined mass represents less than 1% of the proton’s total mass. This paper presents a novel theoretical framework—the Quark Vortex Theory combined with the Mushroom Model—to resolve the proton mass puzzle. By conceptualizing quarks as quantum vortices within a superfluid vacuum, this model explains the origin of mass, spin, charge distribution, and stability of the proton through geometric and energetic dynamics. The proposed model reconstructs the proton’s internal configuration as a hemispherical cap and cylindrical stem, allowing accurate volume and mass estimations that align with known experimental values. Moreover, the theory integrates vortex dynamics and hydrodynamic analogies to express fundamental constants like the gravitational constant G. The model not only resolves inconsistencies in traditional approaches but also opens new directions in particle physics, cosmology, and unification theories.