SU(5) model and proton decay

Abstract

Grand unified theories have several specific common features. One of these, probably most striking, is the existence of the proton decay. We used the SU(5) model to calculate the proton decay rate. As a result, we obtained the proton lifetime $\tau_p \sim 10^{30} \sim 10^{31}$ years. In comparison with the present experimental limit $\tau_p\geq10^{30}$ years, we see that the SU(5) model and other grand unification schemes are not far from the serious experimental tests.