The SU(5) Grand Unification Theory Revisited

Miguel Correia dos Santos Crispim

Key information

Authors:

Miguel Correia dos Santos Crispim (Miguel Correia dos Santos Crispim Romão)

Supervisors:

David Emanuel da Costa (David Emanuel da Costa)

Published in

11/10/2011

Abstract

We review the Standard Model of Particle Physics (SM) and discuss its limitations and challenges left unsolved. We then propose an extension through the use of the group SU(5) in the context of Grand Unified Theory (GUT). We develop the minimal model, as where minimal is understood as having the same matter fields as the SM, and study the consequences, namely the proton decay prediction through Baryon and Lepton number violating processes, and the achievement of unification within the minimal framework. We construct phenomenological tools to systematically study the bounds and constrains. The minimal model is later extended through the inclusion of other fields and/or non-renormalizable terms in order to save it from wrong predictions such as the one which equals the down quarks? masses with the charge leptons. Extensions are chosen in order to transform the minimal model into neutrino mass theories through the three different seesaw mechanisms. We conclude with a discussion on the viability of GUT models based on SU(5).