Fine-tuning and the doublet-triplet splitting problem in the minimal $SU(5)$ GUT

Abstract: In this paper we analyse the doublet-triplet splitting problem in the minimal non-super-symmetric $SU(5)$ GUT. We take into account the full symmetry breaking pattern with both high scale $SU(5)$ breaking and electroweak symmetry breaking. Our analysis shows that the only phenomenologically acceptable model has three vevs, with a strong hierarchy determined by the minimization conditions. The amount of fine-tuning in the model is then numerically evaluated by looking at the effect of variation of input parameters on both the minimization conditions and the bosonic masses. Regarding the vevs as output parameters, a large amount of fine-tuning is required in this scenario, which is an expression of the doublet-triplet splitting problem. We show that this problem is more general, since a model with coupled scalar sectors will in general never realise a hierarchy in vevs. To avoid these problems we advocate imposing the desired hierarchy in vevs as part of the theory. We argue for this viewpoint because the $SU(5)$ breaking and electroweak symmetry breaking need to be adjusted to each other anyway and cannot be regarded as independent mechanisms. We suggest that not only the symmetry breaking pattern needs to be imposed, but also the scales at which the breakings happen. We show quantitatively that the generic theory with hierarchy imposed does not require any fine-tuning of the free parameters which can all be natural and perturbative as desired.