Proton Stability In Supersymmetric SU(5)

Within supersymmetric SU(5) GUT we suggest mechanisms for suppression of baryon number violating dimension five and six operators. The mechanism is based on the idea of split multiplets (i.e. quarks and leptons are not coming from a single GUT state) which is realized by an extension with additional vector-like matter. The construction naturally avoids wrong asymptotic relation $\hat{M}_D=\hat{M}_E$. Thus, the long standing problems of the minimal SUSY SU(5) GUT can be resolved. In a particular example of flavor structure and with additional {\cal U}(1)\tm {\cal Z}_{3N} symmetry we demonstrate how the split multiplet mechanism works out. Namely, the considered model is compatible with successful gauge coupling unification and realistic fermion mass pattern. The nucleon decay rates are relatively suppressed and can be well compatible with current experimental bounds.Comment: Discussions and some clarifications adde

Neutron - Mirror Neutron Oscillations: How Fast Might They Be?

We discuss the phenomenological implications of the neutron (n) oscillation into the mirror neutron (n'), a hypothetical particle exactly degenerate in mass with the neutron but sterile to normal matter. We show that the present experimental data allow a maximal n-n' oscillation in vacuum with a characteristic time $\tau$ much shorter than the neutron lifetime, in fact as small as 1 sec. This phenomenon may manifest in neutron disappearance and regeneration experiments perfectly accessible to present experimental capabilities and may also have interesting astrophysical consequences, in particular for the propagation of ultra high energy cosmic rays.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; revtex; matches paper published by P.R.

Majoron Decay in Matter

It is well known that the matter can significantly alter the picture of neutrino oscillation \cite{W} or neutrino decay \cite{BV}. Here we show that the presence of dense matter induces also the decay of {\it massless} majoron, a Goldstone boson associated with the spontaneous lepton number violation, into a couple of neutrinos with the same (or in some cases also opposite) helicities. We calculate the rates of such matter induced majoron decays in various cases, depending on the neutrino type and the chemical content of the medium, and analyse their properties.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, LATEX, INFN-FE-04-9

Generation Symmetry and E_6 Unification

The group E_6 for grand unification is combined with the generation symmetry group SO(3)_g. The coupling matrices in the Yukawa interaction are identified with the vacuum expectation values of scalar fields which are representations of the generation symmetry. These values determine the hierarchy of the fermions as well as their mixings and CP-violation. This generation mixing appears in conjunction with the mixing of the standard model fermions with the heavy fermions present in the lowest representation of E_6. A close connection between charged and neutral fermions is observed relating for instance the CKM mixings with the mass splittings of the light neutrinos. Numerical fits with only few parameters reproduce quantitatively all known fermion properties. The model predicts an inverted neutrino hierarchy and gives rather strict values for the light and heavy neutrino masses as well as for the 0\nu 2\beta decay parameter. It also predicts that the masses of the two lightest of six `right handed' neutrinos lie in the low TeV region.Comment: RevTex, typos corrected, refs. added. To appear in Phys Rev

Inverse Hierarchy Approach to Fermion Masses

The first fermion family might play a special role in understanding the physics of flavour. This possibility is suggested by the observation that the up-down splitting within quark families increases with the family number: $m_u\sim m_d$, $m_c>m_s$, $m_t\gg m_b$. We construct a model that realizes this feature of the spectrum in a natural way. The inter-family hierarchy is first generated by radiative phenomena in a sector of heavy isosinglet fermions and then transferred to quarks by means of a universal seesaw. A crucial role is played by left-right parity and up-down isotopic symmetry. No family symmetry is introduced. The model implies $m_u/m_d>$ 0.5 and the Cabibbo angle is forced to be $\sim\sqrt{m_d/m_s}$. The top quark is naturally in the 100 GeV range, but not too heavy: $m_t<$ 150 GeV. Inspired by the mass matrices obtained in the model for quarks, we suggest an ansatz also including charged leptons. The differences between $u$-, $d$- and $e$-type fermions are simply parametrized by three complex coefficients \eps{u}, \eps{d} and \eps{e}. Additional consistent predictions are obtained: $m_s$=100-150 MeV and $m_u/m_d<$ 0.75.Comment: 19 pages (standard TeX) + 1 table (cut out and LaTeX separately) + 1 figure (cut out and postscript separately); 2 additional figures available by fax upon request, LBL-32889, LMU-13/9

Predictive SUSY SO(10) model with very low tan⁡β\tan\beta

The first fermion family might play a key role in understanding the structure of flavour: a role of the mass unification point. The GUT scale running masses $\bar{m}_{e,u,d}$ are rather close, which may indicate an approximate symmetry limit. Following this observation, we present a new predictive approach based on the SUSY $SO(10)$ theory with $\tan\beta\sim 1$. The inter-family hierarchy is first generated in a sector of hypothetical superheavy fermions and then transfered inversely to ordinary quarks and leptons by means of the universal seesaw mechanism. The Yukawa matrices are simply parametrized by the small complex coefficients \eps_{u,d,e} which are related by the $SO(10)$ symmetry properties. Their values are determined by the ratio of the GUT scale $M_X\simeq 10^{16}$ GeV to a higher (possibly string) scale $M\simeq 10^{17}-10^{18}$ GeV. The suggested ansatz correctly reproduces the fermion mass and mixing pattern. By taking as input the masses of leptons and $c$ and $b$ quarks, the ratio $m_s/m_d$ and the value of the Cabibbo angle, we compute the $u,d,s$ quark masses, top mass and $\tan\beta$. The top quark is naturally in the 100 GeV range, but with upper limit $M_t<165$ GeV, while the lower bound $M_t>160$ GeV implies $m_s/m_d>22$. $\tan\beta$ can vary from 1.4 to 1.7. The proton decaying $d=5$ operators $qqql$ are naturally suppressed.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, 2 figures not include

Leptogenesis via Collisions: Leaking Lepton Number to the Hidden Sector

We propose a lepto-baryogenesis mechanism in which the non-zero B-L of the universe is produced in out-of-equilibrium, lepton number and CP violating scattering processes that convert ordinary particles into particles of some hidden sector. In particular, we consider the processes $l \phi > l' \phi', \bar l' \bar phi'$ mediated by the heavy Majorana neutrinos $N$ of the seesaw mechanism, where $l$ and $\phi$ are ordinary lepton and Higgs doublets and $l'$, $\phi'$ their hidden counterparts. Such a leptogenesis mechanism is effective even if the reheating temperature is much smaller than the heavy neutrino masses. In particular, it can be as low as $10^{9}$ GeV.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, 2 figures; as to appear in PRL, supplemented with an additional remar