PARITY DOUBLETS IN QUARK PHYSICS

There are numerous examples of very nearly degenerate states of opposi te parity in molecular physics. The ammonia maser is based on one such doublet. Theory shows that these parity doublets can occur if the nuc lear shape in the molecule is reflection asymmetric because the time s cales of the shape and the electronic cloud are well separated. Parity doublets occur in nuclear physics as well for odd A similar to 219-22 9. We discuss the theoretical foundation of these doublets and on that basis suggest that parity doublets should occur in particle physics t oo. In particular they should occur among baryons composed of cbu and cbd quarks.