Search for nucleon decay via modes favored by supersymmetric grand unification models in Super-Kamiokande-I

TL;DR

This study searched for specific nucleon decay modes predicted by supersymmetric grand unified theories using Super-Kamiokande data, but found no evidence, setting stringent lower bounds on nucleon lifetimes and constraining theoretical models.

Contribution

First comprehensive search for supersymmetric GUT-favored nucleon decay modes in Super-Kamiokande data, establishing new lower lifetime limits and constraining model parameters.

Findings

No evidence of nucleon decay in targeted modes.

Set lower lifetime limits up to 2.3×10^{33} years.

Results strongly constrain supersymmetric grand unification models.

Abstract

We report the results for nucleon decay searches via modes favored by supersymmetric grand unified models in Super-Kamiokande. Using 1489 days of full Super-Kamiokande-I data, we searched for $p \to \bar{\nu} K^+$, $n \to \bar{\nu} K^0$, $p \to \mu^+ K^0$ and $p \to e^+ K^0$ modes. We found no evidence for nucleon decay in any of these modes. We set lower limits of partial nucleon lifetime 2.3$\times10^{33}$, 1.3$\times10^{32}$, 1.3$\times10^{33}$ and 1.0$\times10^{33}$ years at 90% confidence level for $p \to \bar{\nu} K^+$, $n \to \bar{\nu} K^0$, $p \to \mu^+ K^0$ and $p \to e^+ K^0$ modes, respectively. These results give a strong constraint on supersymmetric grand unification models.