Contorted Flavors in Grand Unification and Proton Decay

TL;DR

This paper explores alternative fermion groupings in grand unification models, called contorted flavors, which can suppress proton decay while maintaining correct fermion masses.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of contorted multiplets, pairing different quarks and leptons, as a novel approach to address proton decay in grand unification theories.

Findings

Contorted flavor arrangements can suppress proton decay.

Correct fermion masses are achievable with these arrangements.

Flavor dependence plays a key role in proton decay suppression.

Abstract

Conventionally we collect electron and up/down-quarks (u,d)+(nu_e,e) to form unified generations, and collect the left-handed and the right-handed fermions of the same flavors (nu_e,e)+e^c. We can alternatively have a contorted multiplet, made by pairing different quarks and leptons, like (u,d)+(nu_mu,mu) or (u,d)+(nu_tau,tau), and/or between different left and right handed fermions to (nu_e,e)+mu^c, etc. These can suppress proton decay, due to its high flavor dependence, while having the correct fermion masses.