With Neutrino Masses Revealed, Proton Decay is the Missing Link

Abstract

By way of paying tribute to Abdus Salam, I recall the ideas of higher unification that he and I initiated. I discuss the current status of those ideas in the light of recent developments, including those of: (a) gauge coupling unification, (b) discovery of neutrino-oscillation at SuperKamiokande, and (c) ongoing searches for proton decay. It is remarked that the mass of $ν_τ$ ($\sim$ 1/20 eV) suggested by the SuperK result seems to provide clear support for an underlying unity of forces based on the ideas of (i) SU(4)-color, (ii) left-right symmetry and (iii) supersymmetry. The change in perspective, pertaining to both gauge coupling unification and proton decay, brought forth by supersymmetry and superstrings is presented. The beneficial roles of string- symmetries in addressing certain naturalness problems of supersymmetry, including that of rapid proton decay, are noted. In the last section, attention is drawn to the recent joint works with K. Babu and F. Wilczek, where the influence of neutrino masses and thus of the new SuperK result on proton decay are noted. In this context, it is remarked that with neutrino masses and coupling unification revealed, the discovery of proton decay, that remains as the missing link, should not be far behind.