Decay of quarks in the Pati-Salam model

The authors discuss, within the framework of the basic Pati-Salam model, the feasibility of the hypothesis that quarks are unconfined, integer-charged, relatively light (mass approximately 2-3 GeV) and short-lived (tausub(q) < approximately 10-12 s). Estimates for the quark life-times vary between 10-12 s and 10+11 s for the white and blue quarks and between 10-12 s and 10+16 s for the red quarks. The life-times depend very sensitively, and it is shown why, on the values of the Salam-Weinberg mixing angle and the quark-gluon coupling constant. (Auth.)