Elements of F-ast Proton Decay

Understand

Gauge coupling unification in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) strongly suggests the existence of a Grand Unified Theory (GUT), which could be probed by the observation of proton decay.

• Proton lifetime in the p \to (e+|mu+) pi0 dimension six mode is proportional in the fourth power to the GUT mass scale, and inversely proportional in the fourth power to the GUT coupling.
• We provide an updated dictionary of solutions for the relevant unification parameters with generic beta-function coefficients, significantly upgrading the level of detail with which second order effects are treated, and correcting subtle published errors.
• F-lipped SU(5) with strict MSSM field content is known to survive existing null detection limits for proton decay approaching 10^34 years, and indeed, the lifetime predicted by prior studies can be so long that successful detection is not currently plausible.