Are There GUTs Where the Proton Never Decays?

[billtodd]

Are there any GUTs where the proton never decays?
One should write such a theory, perhaps me...

 

[PeterDonis]

Are there any GUTs where the proton never decays?

Where have you looked to find out?

One should write such a theory, perhaps me...

That is off topic here, since PF is not for personal research.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Where have you looked to find out?

He asked us!

 

[pinball1970]

Are there any GUTs where the proton never decays?
One should write such a theory, perhaps me...

you looked at this?
https://link.aps.org/accepted/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.241801

 

[berkeman]

(Thread prefix changed "A"-->"I")

 

[Vanadium 50]

It;s fairly trivial to do this. Protons decay via $p \rightarrow e \mu \tau$ and neutrons via $n \rightarrow 3\nu$. The harder part is to make a model that does this "naturally".

 

[fresh_42]

He asked us!

I looked at Wikipedia (German version) and got a brief, but sufficient answer. The English version is far more detailed so I didn't read it since I already had the main questions answered.

The question I would really like to be answered is: If it is true that Super-Kamiokande in Japan set a lower bound of $1.6\cdot 10^{34}\,a$ (by $2017$), which are the consequences of this extremely marginal difference to stability. Admittedly, nearly zero and zero make a big difference in mathematics. But if I add the tolerance of measurement in the real world, can it ever be distinguished?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Are you worried about losing a sock to its protons decaying? Then you don't care if the lifetime has 34 or 36 zeroes. If you care which theory is right, then you do.

 

[fresh_42]

Are you worried about losing a sock to its protons decaying? Then you don't care if the lifetime has 34 or 36 zeroes. If you care which theory is right, then you do.

Sure. I just wondered if they are distinguishable at all! Or in other words: are there other possible tests with higher expectations of success than starring at a huge tank and waiting forever? And if we detect something, can we be sure it wasn't just noise?

 

[Vanadium 50]

You can stare at a small tank for an even longer time. Most people don't consider this a step forward.

 

[PeterDonis]

which are the consequences of this extremely marginal difference to stability

Um, the difference between not observing anything that would indicate that a proton decay had happened, and observing such a thing? The former is what happened with Super Kamiokande. But if the latter had happened, it would have made a difference.

 

[billtodd]

It;s fairly trivial to do this. Protons decay via $p \rightarrow e \mu \tau$ and neutrons via $n \rightarrow 3\nu$. The harder part is to make a model that does this "naturally".

I know that neutron can decay (15 minutes in the limelight).
But I think that proton decay is impossible.
@PeterDonis you are right I haven't searched, I thought you knew of the existence of at least one theory that suggests an eternity lifetime for protons,,,,

 

[billtodd]

you looked at this?
https://link.aps.org/accepted/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.241801

In the abstract they write:"However, abandoning the requirement of absolute proton stability"

If there's no absolute stability shouldn't it decay eventually? That's not seems what I was looking for.
But thanks, I guess I really need to read my Group Theory books for physicists.
BTW does anyone know where may I find the report/article of Infinite Quantization by Mark Srednicki, was it ever published?

 

[PeterDonis]

I think that proton decay is impossible.

Based on what?

I haven't searched

Then you should. The answer to your question is easy to find, and I don't see why you should expect someone else to do that work for you.

 

[Vanadium 50]

But I think that proton decay is impossible.

Thank you for sharing your opinion.

The putative neutron decay $n \rightarrow 3\nu$ gets lumped in with "proton decay" as both processes violate baryon number conservation. The ordinary neutron decay $n \rightarrow pe\nu$ does not.

 

[billtodd]

Based on what?

Call it my GUT feeling...

 

[PeterDonis]

Call it my GUT feeling...

Personal speculation is off limits here.

Thread closed.