引力波和质子衰变：进入大统一理论的互补窗口
Gravitational waves and proton decay: complementary windows into GUTs
摘要：
质子衰变是大统一理论（GUTs）的一个确凿证据。Super-Kamiokande的研究导致了对GUT对称破缺尺度的严格限制。大型多用途中微子实验DUNE、Hyper-Kamiokande和JUNO将发现质子衰变或进一步推动对称性破缺标度超过$10^{16}$ GeV。大统一理论的另一个可能的观测结果是，在大统一理论破裂到标准模型规范群的过程中，宇宙弦网络的形成。在膨胀的宇宙中，这样一个弦网络的演化产生了一个随机的引力波背景，它将被许多引力波探测器在很宽的频率范围内测试。我们证明了在确定$SO(10)$ GUT断裂链时，质子衰变和宇宙弦产生的引力波的观测之间的非平凡互补性。我们表明，这样的观察可以排除$SO(10)$打破通过翻转$SU(5)\times U(1)$或标准$SU(5)$，而打破通过Pati-Salam中间对称，或标准$SU(5)\times U(1)$，可能是有利的，如果一个大的分离的能量尺度与质子衰变和宇宙弦的指示。我们注意到，最近的NANOGrav实验结果已被解释为宇宙弦在$\sim 10^{14}$ GeV的证据。这将有力地指向大统一体的存在，其中$SO(10)$是主要候选者。我们表明，结合已经可用的质子衰变的限制，可以确定首选的对称性破缺路线的标准模型。
英文摘要：
Proton decay is a smoking gun signature of Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). Searches by Super-Kamiokande have resulted in stringent limits on the GUT symmetry breaking scale. The large-scale multipurpose neutrino experiments DUNE, Hyper-Kamiokande and JUNO will either discover proton decay or further push the symmetry breaking scale above $10^{16}$ GeV. Another possible observational consequence of GUTs is the formation of a cosmic string network produced during the breaking of the GUT to the Standard Model gauge group. The evolution of such a string network in the expanding Universe produces a stochastic background of gravitational waves which will be tested by a number of gravitational wave detectors over a wide frequency range. We demonstrate the non-trivial complementarity between the observation of proton decay and gravitational waves produced from cosmic strings in determining $SO(10)$ GUT breaking chains. We show that such observations could exclude $SO(10)$ breaking via flipped $SU(5)\times U(1)$ or standard $SU(5)$, while breaking via a Pati-Salam intermediate symmetry, or standard $SU(5)\times U(1)$, may be favoured if a large separation of energy scales associated with proton decay and cosmic strings is indicated. We note that recent results by the NANOGrav experiment have been interpreted as evidence for cosmic strings at a scale $\sim 10^{14}$ GeV. This would strongly point towards the existence of GUTs, with $SO(10)$ being the prime candidate. We show that the combination with already available constraints from proton decay allows to identify preferred symmetry breaking routes to the Standard Model.
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