Unified theory in the worldline approach

Abstract

We explore unified field theories based on the gauge groups $SU(5)$ and $SO(10)$ using the worldline approach for chiral fermions with a Wilson loop coupling to a background gauge field. Representing path ordering and chiral projection operators with functional integrals has previously reproduced the sum over the chiralities and representations of standard model particles in a compact way. This paper shows that for $SU(5)$ the $\bar{\mathbf{5}}$ and $\mathbf{10}$ representations -- into which the Georgi-Glashow model places the left-handed fermionic content of the standard model -- appear naturally and with the familiar chirality. We carry out the same analysis for flipped $SU(5)$ and uncover a link to $SO(10)$ unified theory. We pursue this by exploring the $SO(10)$ theory in the same framework, the less established unified theory based on $SU(6)$ and briefly consider the Pati-Salam model using $SU(4) \!\times \!SU(2)\! \times\! SU(2)$.