Deformations of the standard model: SU_q (3) flavor symmetry

The quantum group SU_q (3) = U_q (su(3)) is taken as a baryon flavor symmetry and exceptionally accurate octet and decuplet baryons mass relations are obtained by accounting for the electromagnetic contribution to baryon masses (to zeroth order). The resulting charge specific q-deformed octet and decuplet baryon mass sum formulas are accurate to 0.02% and 0.08% respectively; a factor of 20 reduction in error compared to the standard Gell-Mann-Okubo mass formulas. An explicit formula for the Cabibbo angle, taken to be , in terms of the deformation parameter q and spin parity J^P of the baryons is obtained.