Dark Matter and Gauge Coupling Unification in Non-supersymmetric SO(10) Grand Unified Models

Understand

Unlike minimal SU(5), SO(10) provides a straightforward path towards gauge coupling unification by modifying the renormalization group evolution of the gauge couplings above some intermediate scale which may also be related to the seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses.

• Unification can be achieved for several different choices of the intermediate gauge group below the SO(10) breaking scale.
• In this work, we consider in detail the possibility that SO(10) unification may also provide a natural dark matter candidate, stability being guaranteed by a leftover $Z_2$ symmetry.
• We systematically examine the possible intermediate gauge groups which allow a non-degenerate, fermionic, Standard Model singlet dark matter candidate while at the same time respecting gauge coupling unification.