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Fermion masses, neutrino oscillations, and proton decay in the light of SuperKamiokande

K. S. Babu, Jogesh C. Pati, Frank Wilczek

TL;DR

This work integrates SuperK’s neutrino oscillation data into a predictive $SO(10)$ unification framework, linking neutrino masses to quark-lepton masses and proton decay. By building a minimal Higgs and a constrained set of Yukawas, the authors obtain an overconstrained fit that reproduces second- and third-family masses and predicts a large $\nu_\mu-\nu_\tau$ mixing with hierarchical neutrinos, while tying $m_{\nu_\tau}$ to a seesaw scale $M^R_\tau \sim (1-3)\times10^{14}$ GeV. They show that neutrino masses and mixing significantly affect proton decay via both standard and neutrino-mass–related $d=5$ operators, predicting potentially observable $p\to \overline{\nu}K^+$ and $p\to \mu^+K^0$ modes, and emphasizing how current proton lifetime limits stress the model and constrain $M_{\rm eff}$ and $M_{16}\tan\gamma$. Depending on UV completions, the neutrino-mass–driven operators could even dominate proton decay, offering a distinctive experimental signature for this unified framework.

Abstract

Within the framework of unified gauge models, interactions responsible for neutrino masses can also provide mechanisms for nucleon instability. We discuss their implications concretely in the light of recent results on neutrino oscillation from the SuperKamiokande collaboration. We construct a predictive SO(10)-based framework that describes the masses and mixing of all quarks and leptons. An overconstrained global fit is obtained, that makes five successful predictions for quarks and charged leptons. The same description provides agreement with the SuperK results on atmospheric neutrinos and supports a small-angle MSW mechanism. We find that current limits on nucleon stability put significant stress on the framework. Further, a distinctive feature of the SO(10) model developed here is the likely prominence of the $μ^+ K^0$ mode in addition to the $\barν K^+$ mode of proton decay. Thus improved searches in these channels for proton decay will either turn up events, or force us outside this circle of ideas.

Fermion masses, neutrino oscillations, and proton decay in the light of SuperKamiokande

TL;DR

This work integrates SuperK’s neutrino oscillation data into a predictive unification framework, linking neutrino masses to quark-lepton masses and proton decay. By building a minimal Higgs and a constrained set of Yukawas, the authors obtain an overconstrained fit that reproduces second- and third-family masses and predicts a large mixing with hierarchical neutrinos, while tying to a seesaw scale GeV. They show that neutrino masses and mixing significantly affect proton decay via both standard and neutrino-mass–related operators, predicting potentially observable and modes, and emphasizing how current proton lifetime limits stress the model and constrain and . Depending on UV completions, the neutrino-mass–driven operators could even dominate proton decay, offering a distinctive experimental signature for this unified framework.

Abstract

Within the framework of unified gauge models, interactions responsible for neutrino masses can also provide mechanisms for nucleon instability. We discuss their implications concretely in the light of recent results on neutrino oscillation from the SuperKamiokande collaboration. We construct a predictive SO(10)-based framework that describes the masses and mixing of all quarks and leptons. An overconstrained global fit is obtained, that makes five successful predictions for quarks and charged leptons. The same description provides agreement with the SuperK results on atmospheric neutrinos and supports a small-angle MSW mechanism. We find that current limits on nucleon stability put significant stress on the framework. Further, a distinctive feature of the SO(10) model developed here is the likely prominence of the mode in addition to the mode of proton decay. Thus improved searches in these channels for proton decay will either turn up events, or force us outside this circle of ideas.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 15 sections, 126 equations.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. $m_{\nu_\tau}$ and the Unification Scale
  3. Large $(\nu_\mu-\nu_\tau)$ oscillation angle with hierarchical masses
  4. A more ambitious $SO(10)$ model
  5. Inclusion of the first family: $\boldmath{\nu_{\rm e}-\nu_\mu}$ oscillation
  6. Neutrino masses and proton decay
  7. Natural doublet-triplet splitting in $SO(10)$
  8. Baryon number violation
  9. Constraints on proton decay amplitudes from the proton lifetime
  10. Constraints on $M_{\rm eff}$ and proton decay via standard operators
  11. Constraint on $M_{16}\tan\gamma$ and proton decay via the new operator
  12. The neutrino mass related operator as the sole source of proton decay
  13. Baryon number violation from the $RRRR$ operator
  14. Charged lepton decay mode
  15. Summary and concluding remarks