Related papers: Proton Stability: From the Standard Model to Beyon…
We have recently proposed an alternative picture for the physics at the scale of gauge coupling unification, where the unified symmetry is realized in higher dimensions but is broken locally by a symmetry breaking defect. Gauge coupling…
In preparation for upcoming nucleon decay searches at Hyper-Kamiokande, it is important to derive a theoretical upper bound on the proton lifetime in a general class of grand unified theory (GUT) models. In this paper, we make an attempt…
A simple extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model in which baryon and lepton numbers are local gauge symmetries spontaneously broken at the supersymmetry scale is reported. This theory provides a natural explanation for proton…
The Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is plagued by two major fine-tuning problems: the mu-problem and the proton decay problem. We present a simultaneous solution to both problems within the framework of a U(1)'-extended MSSM…
In a model of supersymmetric SU(5) Grand Unification with a spatial dimension described by the orbifold $S^1/(Z_2 \times Z_2')$, proton decay is naturally suppressed at all orders. This is achieved by a suitable implementation of the…
We present our best estimates of the uncertainties due to heavy particle threshold corrections on the unification scale $M_U$, intermediate scale $M_I$ and coupling constant Alpha_U in the minimal non-supersymmetric SO(10) models. Using…
We discuss gauge coupling unification of the SM descending directly from SO(10) while providing solutions to the three outstanding problems: neutrino masses, dark matter, and the baryon asymmetry of the universe. Conservation of matter…
The success of SU(5)-like gauge coupling unification boundary conditions $g_3^2=g_2^2=5/3 g_1^2$ has biased most attempts to embed the SM interactions into a unified structure. After discussing the limitations of the orthodox approach, we…
We investigate model independent upper bounds on total proton lifetime in the context of Grand Unified Theories with the Standard Model matter content. We find them to be $\tau_p \leq 1.5^{+0.5}_{-0.3} \times 10^{39} \ \frac{(M_X/10^{16}…
We recapitulate the primary sources of theoretical uncertainties in proton lifetime estimates in renormalizable, four-dimensional and non-supersymmetric grand unifications that represent the most conservative framework in which this…
We advocate the idea that proton decay may probe physics at the Planck scale instead of the GUT scale. This is possible because supersymmetric theories have dimension-5 operators that can induce proton decay at dangerous rates, even with…
We investigate a simple realistic grand unified theory based on the $SU(5)$ gauge symmetry which predicts an upper bound on the proton decay lifetime for the channels $p \to K^+ \bar{\nu}$ and $p \to \pi^+ \bar{\nu}$, i.e. $\tau (p \to K^+…
Since the main experimentally testable prediction of grand unified theories is the instability of the proton, precise determination of the proton lifetime for each particular model is desirable. Unfortunately, the corresponding computation…
We show that more than two generations of quarks and leptons are required to have an anomaly free discrete R-symmetry larger than R-parity, provided that the supersymmetric Standard Model can be minimally embedded into a grand unified…
We study the breaking of supersymmetry and its transmission to the light states in the context of the minimal SU(5) grand unified theory, with no additional singlets. This simple theory can be taken as a prototype for a program of breaking…
Properties and experimental predictions of a broad class of supergravity grand unified models possessing an $SU(5)$-type proton decay and $R$ parity are described. Models of this type can be described in terms of four parameters at the Gut…
We make a detailed analysis of gauge coupling unification in supersymmetry. When the Standard Model gauge group is embedded in a Grand Unified Theory, new particles often appear below the GUT scale in order to predict the right…
We calculate the proton lifetime and discuss topological defects in a wide class of non-supersymmetric (non-SUSY) $SO(10)$ and $E(6)$ Grand Unified Theories (GUTs), broken via left-right subgroups with one or two intermediate scales (a…
Many extensions of the Standard Model have to face the problem of new unsuppressed baryon-number violating interactions. In supersymmetry, the simplest way to solve this problem is to assume R-parity conservation. As a result, the lightest…
We perform a systematic study of the Standard Model embedding in a D-brane configuration of type I string theory at the TeV scale. We end up with an attractive model and we study several phenomenological questions, such as gauge coupling…