GUT
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Physics
| Stands for | Grand unified theory |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
GUT stands for Grand unified theory, a physics abbreviation.
Proposed theory in which the strong, weak and electromagnetic forces merge into a single force at extremely high energies, about 10^16 gigaelectronvolts. Many GUTs predict that protons eventually decay, a process experiments have not detected.
Example: Super-Kamiokande's limits on proton decay have ruled out the simplest GUT.
Usage notes
Howard Georgi and Sheldon Glashow proposed the first GUT, based on the symmetry group SU(5), in 1974. Experiments show the proton lives longer than about 10^34 years if it decays at all. A GUT that also includes gravity would be a theory of everything.
Related abbreviations
More physics abbreviations
- EUV – Extreme ultraviolet
- FBD – Free-body diagram
- FCC – Future Circular Collider
- FWHM – Full width at half maximum
- g – Acceleration due to gravity
- GR – General relativity
- GW – Gravitational wave
- h – Planck constant
- HEP – High-energy physics
- HF – High frequency
- IR – Infrared
- ITER – International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor