  A second order extension of the QED Lagrangian (including boson-boson
coupling) has been used to describe q\bar q hadrons. Assuming massless
elementary fermions (quantons) this results in a finite theory without open
parameters, which may be regarded as a fundamental description of the strong
interaction. Two potentials are deduced, a boson-exchange potential and one,
which can be identified with the known confinement potential in hadrons. This
formalism has been applied the mesonic systems omega(782), Phi(1020),
J/psi(3097) and Upsilon(9460), for which a good description is obtained.
  The most important results are: 1. The confinement of hadrons is not due to
colour, but is a general property of relativistic bound states. 2. Massive
quarks in the Standard Model (QCD) are understood as effective fermions with a
mass given by the binding energy in the boson-exchange potential.
