Proton decay and the quantum structure of space–time

Abstract

Virtual black holes in noncommutative space–time are investigated using coordinate coherent state formalism such that the event horizon of a black hole is manipulated by smearing it with a Gaussian of width [Formula: see text], where θ is the noncommutativity parameter. Proton lifetime, the main associated phenomenology of the noncommutative virtual black holes, has been studied, first in four-dimensional space–time and then generalized to D dimensions. The lifetime depends on θ and the number of space–time dimensions such that it emphasizes on the measurement of proton lifetime as a potential probe for the microstructure of space–time.