Supergravity Models

TL;DR

This paper reviews supergravity grand unified models, discussing their theoretical foundations, experimental motivations, soft breaking terms, GUT threshold effects, proton decay predictions, and potential explanations for Standard Model features.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of supergravity models, highlighting recent developments and their implications for particle physics and unification theories.

Findings

Supergravity models incorporate soft breaking terms affecting particle masses.

GUT thresholds influence proton decay predictions.

Supergravity may explain certain Standard Model features, but some aspects require Planck scale physics.

Abstract

Theoretical and experimental motivations behind supergravity grand unified models are described. The basic ideas of supergravity, and the origin of the soft breaking terms are reviewed. Effects of GUT thresholds and predictions arising from models possessing proton decay are discussed. Speculations as to which aspects of the Standard Model might be explained by supergravity models and which may require Planck scale physics to understand are mentioned.