Planck Scale Physics and the Testability of SU(5) Supergravity GUT

Abstract

GUT scale threshold corrections in minimal SU(5) supergravity grand unification are discussed. It is shown that predictions may be made despite uncertainties associated with the high energy scale. A bound relating the strong coupling constant to the mass scales associated with proton decay and supersymmetry is derived, and a sensitive probe of the underlying theory is outlined. In particular, low energy measurements can in principle determine the presence of Planck scale ($ 1 / {{\rm M}_{\rm Pl}} $) terms.