Gauge coupling unification in realistic free-fermionic string models

We discuss the unification of gauge couplings within the framework of a wide class of realistic free-fermionic string models which have appeared in the literature, including the flipped SU(5), SO(6) × SO(4), and various SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) models. If the matter spectrum below the string scale is that of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), then string unification is in disagreement with experiment. We therefore examine several effects that may modify the minimal string predictions. First, we develop a systematic procedure for evaluating the one-loop heavy string threshold corrections in free-fermionic string models, and we explicitly evaluate these corrections for each of the realistic models. We find that these string threshold corrections are small, and we provide general arguments explaining why such threshold corrections are suppressed in string theory. Thus heavy thresholds cannot resolve the disagreement with experiment. We also study the effect of non-standard hypercharge normalizations, light SUSY thresholds, and intermediate-scale gauge structure, and similarly conclude that these effects cannot resolve the disagreement with low-energy data. Finally, we examine the effects of additional color triplets and electroweak doublets beyond the MSSM. Although not required in ordinary grand unification scenarios, such states generically appear within the context of certain realistic free-fermionic string models. We show that if these states exist at the appropriate thresholds, then the gauge couplings will indeed unify at the string scale. Thus, within these string models, string unification can be in agreement with low-energy data.     

Three generations in the fermionic construction

We obtain three generation SU(3)_c × SU(2)_L × U(1)_Y string models in all of the exactly solvable (0, 2) constructions sampled by fermionization. None of these examples, including those that are symmetric abelian orbifolds, rely on the ℤ₂ × ℤ₂ orbifold underlying the NAHE basis. We present the first known three generation models for which the hypercharge normalization, k₁, takes values smaller than that obtained from an SU(5) embedding, thus lowering the effective gauge coupling unification scale. All of the models contain fractional electrically charged and vectorlike exotic matter that could survive in the light spectrum.     

Supercompositeness from superstrings

String Unified Models based on the k = 1 level of the Kac-Moody Algebra, predict the existence of “exotic” new states which carry fractional electric charges. We analyse the possibility of considering these “exotics” as preonic matter which can be used to form the families and the gauge group breaking higgs scalars. It is proposed that such a formation may occur provided that these states transform non-trivially under a non-Abelian gauge group with a relatively large rank in order to confine them at a sufficiently large scale. Such a situation is natural in string derived unified models, since the role of the confining group can be played by (part of) the Hidden symmetry. As an example, we present a string derived toy model based on the SU(4) × SU(2) _L × SU(2) _R Pati-Salam gauge group.     

Restrictions on realistic superstring models from renormalization group equations

The renormalization group equations for supersymmetric models are re-examined considering the normalization factor of the hypercharge as a free parameter. This possibility has recently been raised in the context of superstring theories. Very important (and simple) restrictions for the phenomenological viability of the models are obtained. Several examples (some of them with great physical relevance) are given in order to illustrate how the analysis of an important class of SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1)_Ysuperstring constructions can be carried out. Many models can be ruled out in this way, which is welcome for the predictive power of the theory.     

Stringy origin of Tevatron Wjj anomaly

The invariant mass distribution of dijets produced in association with W bosons, recently observed by the CDF Collaboration at Tevatron, reveals an excess in the dijet mass range 120-160 GeV/c², 3σ beyond Standard Model expectations. We show that such an excess is a generic feature of low mass string theory, due to the production and decay of a leptophobic Z^′, a singlet partner of SU(3) gluons coupled primarily to the U(1) baryon number. In this framework, U(1) and SU(3) appear as subgroups of U(3) associated with open strings ending on a stack of 3 D-branes. In addition, a minimal model contains two other stacks to accommodate the electro-weak SU(2)⊂U(2) and the hypercharge U(1). Of the three U(1) gauge bosons, the two heavy Z^′ and Z^″ receive masses through the Green-Schwarz mechanism. For a given Z^′ mass, the model is quite constrained. Fine tuning three of its free parameters is just sufficient to simultaneously ensure: a small Z-Z^′ mixing in accord with the stringent LEP data on the Z mass; very small (less than 1%) branching ratio into leptons; and a large hierarchy between Z^″ and Z^′ masses. The heavier neutral gauge boson Z^″ is within the reach of LHC.     

A low composite scale preon model with complementarity

We have constructed the first “realistic candidate” preon model with low composite scale satisfying complementarity between the Higgs and confining phases. The model is based onSU(4) metacolor and predicts four generations of ordinary quarks and leptons together with heavy neutrinos at the level of the standard gauge groupSU(3) _c ×SU(2) _L ×U(1) _Y . There are no exotic massless fermions. The global family group isSU(2)×U(1).     

Is hypercharge U(1) in Weinberg's model redundant?

The U₁ × U₁(loc) × SU₂(loc) invariant Weinberg lagrangian can be reduced to a U₁ × SU₂(loc) invariant lagrangian without hypercharge group involving only a single left-handed Weyl spinor field and an isotriplet gauge vector field. Spontaneous symmetry breakdown is induced by condensation of fermion pairs. Charge appears simply as “isospin charge”.     

The construction of vector-like supersymmetric gauge models of weak and electromagnetic interactions

Despite great efforts and partial successes the situation with respect to spontaneously broken supersymmetric unified gauge models of weak, electromagnetic and strong interactions has remained quite unsatisfactory up to now. Starting from the most simple SU(2) × U(1) cases we exploit possible extensions. This naturally leads to a consideration of vector-like models with—in the first instance—a larger number of multiplets. Although the later can be made massive without spoiling the conservation of fermion number, the additional massive fermions only show parity conserving interactions with all the intermediate vector fields. Therefore models with larger gauge groups are considered: SU(2) × SU(2) × U(1) with two quartets, SU(3) × U(1) with four triplets, and finally SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) with two sextets of matter fields. None of these can be accepted yet as a true model for physical particles, but it is shown how different negative features in the simple theories may be avoided in the more complicated ones. Thus our results may be considered as an encouraging starting point for investigations of larger gauge groups in supersymmetric models.     

Fractional charges and the renormalization group in theSU(4)×O(4) string model

We study the renormalization group equations of the gauge couplings in theSU(4)×O(4)～SU(4)×SU(2) _L ×SU(2_ _R string model, derived in the context of the free fermionic formulation of the four dimensional superstring. We calculate the effective string unification scale taking into account string threshold corrections and we consider the consequences of then _L andn _R fractionally charged states, sitting in the (1, 2, 1) and (1, 1, 2) representations correspondingly, of the gauge symmetry of the model. Some of these states become massive at a very high scale, when a number of singlet fields acquire vev's. However, many of them (the precise number depends on the specific choice of the flat direction) remain in the massless spectrum. We consider various cases and find that, for specific choices of flat directions, the physical parameters of the model, like the grand unification scale and the low energy parameters sin²θ _W and α₃, depend only on the differencen _?=n_L-n_R. We study more general cases where remnants of the exotic doublets remain below theSU(4) breaking scale. We also solve the coupled differential system of the renormalization group equations for the gauge and the Yukawa couplings and estimate the range of the top quark mass which is found to lie in the range 140 GeV<m _t<190GeV.     

Phase portrait ofSU(5) grand unified model

The one-loop effective potential of theSU(5) model is investigated both in high and low temperature approximation. We find the regions of values of coupling constants and temperatures where theSU(5), theSU(4)×U(1) and theSU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) symmetric states are metastable. A general method of such an investigation is proposed. We observe that the domain structure of the Universe with the simultaneous existence of the gauge symmetriesSU(4)×U(1) andSU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) in different domains could take place.     

New physics contribution to neutral trilinear gauge boson couplings

We study the one-loop new physics effects to the CP even triple neutral gauge boson vertices γ ^⋆ γ Z, γ ^⋆ Z Z, Z ^⋆ Z γ and Z ^⋆ ZZ in the context of Little Higgs models. We compute the contribution of the additional fermions in Little Higgs models in the framework of direct product groups where [SU(2)×U(1)]² gauge symmetry is embedded in SU(5) global symmetry and also in the framework of the simple group where SU(N)×U(1) gauge symmetry breaks down to SU(2) _L ×U(1). We calculate the contribution of the fermions to these couplings when T parity is invoked. In addition, we re-examine the MSSM contribution at the chosen point of SPS1a′ and compare with the SM and Little Higgs models.     

General description of new physics in t,b and boson interactions and its unitarity constraints

We list all possible dim = 6 CP conserving and SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) gauge invariant interactions, which could be generated in case no new particles would be reachable in the future Colliders, and the only observable New Physics would be in the form of new interactions affecting the scalar sector and the quarks of the third family. These interactions are described by operators involving the standard model scalar field, the quarks of the third family and the gauge bosons. Subsequently, we identify those operators which do not contribute to LEP1 (and lower energy) observables at tree level and are not purely gluonic. Since present measurements do not strongly constrain the couplings of these operators, we derive here the unitarity bounds on them. Finally, in order to get a feeling on the possible physical meaning of the appearance of any of these operators, we identify the operators generated in a class of renormalizable dynamical models which at the TeV scale, are fully described by the SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) gauge group.     

Exotic smoothness,noncommutative geometry,and particle physics

We investigate how exotic differential structures may reveal themselves in particle physics. The analysis is based on A. Connes' construction of the standard model. It is shown that, if one of the copies of the spacetime manifold is equipped with an exotic differential structure, a compact object of geometric origin may exist even if the spacetime is topologically trivial. Possible implications are discussed. AnSU(3) ⊗SU(2) ⊗U(1) gauge model is constructed. This model may not be realistic, but it shows what kind of physical phenomena might be expected due to the existence of exotic differential structures on the spacetime manifold.     

A supersymmetricSU(5)×U(1) model with natural gauge hierarchy

We present a supersymmetricSU(5)×U(1) model. This model has the following features. The gauge hierarchy is naturally generated by the quadratically divergent nature of the Fayet-IliopoulosD term. TheSU(5)×U(1) gauge symmetry breaks uniquely intoSU(3) _W ×SU(2) _c ×U(1) _y at an energy scale of 10^17–18GeV. The non-vanishing vacuum expectation value of an auxiliary field component ofU(1) gauge vector multiplet induces the breaking ofSU(2) _W ×U(1) _y . It gives a mass of 10^2–3GeV to scalar quarks and scalar leptons at the tree level. The renormalization group analysis shows that the color fine structure constant α _C (M _W ) becomes somewhat small and the Weinberg angle sin²θ _W (M _W ) somewhat too large in a simple version of the model.     

Gauge coupling flux thresholds, exotic matter and the unification scale in F-SU(5) GUT

We explore the gauge coupling relations and the unification scale in F-theory SU(5) GUT broken down to the Standard Model by an internal U(1) _Y gauge flux. We consider variants with exotic matter representations which may appear in these constructions and investigate their rôle in the effective field theory model. We make a detailed investigation on the conditions imposed on the extraneous matter to raise the unification scale and make the color triplets heavy in order to avoid fast proton decay. We also discuss in brief the implications on the gaugino masses.     

Signals of new gauge bosons at futuree + e − colliders

We analyze possible indirect signals of additional neutral gauge bosons at futuree ⁺ e ^? colliders, concentrating onSU(2) _L ×U(1) _y ×U(1) _y , andSU(2) _L ×SU(2) _R ×U(1) effective theories. We develop a simple formalism to describe these effects and make a careful study of radiative corrections, in particular initial state radiation, which will be shown to have important implications. To make realistic estimates of the sensitivity to the new gauge boson effects, we use a model detector fore ⁺ e ^? annihilation at a center of mass energy of 500 GeV. Using a number of selected physical observables we then show that masses considerably higher than the total energy (up to a factor of 6) can be probed and that distinction between various theoretical models is possible.     

Phase portrait ofSU(5) model. II intermediate phasesSU(3)×[U(1)]2 and [SU(2)]2×[U(1)]2

The effective potential of the scalar field in theSU(5) model has extrema with symmetry:SU(5),SU(4)×U(1),SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1),SU(3)×[U(1)]², [SU(2)]²×[U(1)]². In our recent paper it was shown that theSU(4)×U(1) phase as well asSU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) phase were stable at the nonzero temperature in a vast region of parameters. In the present paper it is found that the [SU(2)]²×[U(1)]² symmetric vacuum is unstable and theSU(3)×[U(1)]² symmetric vacuum can be metastable in the certain interval of the temperature. Domains of the three phases:SU(4)×U(1),SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1),SU(3)×[U(1)]²-could co-exist in the early. Universe.     

Aspects of left-right symmetric models in superstring phenomenology

The general features of low-energy, rank-six left-right symmetric models as inspired by the superstring are examined. Particular attention is paid to the mass-mixing matrix of the exotic and downtype quarks. It is found that the class of models based on the groupSU(3) _C ×SU(2) _L ×SU(2) _N ×U(1) _L ×U(1) _R is plagued with the problem of unnatural fine tuning. Models based on the other left-right group, namelySU(3) _C ×SU(2) _L ×SU(2) _N ×U(1) _L ×U(1) _R , work rather well from the points of view investigated. In this case a parameter fitting is presented which is compatible with the lowering of the group rank by two units via radiative breaking, without conflicting either with weak universality or with lepton conservation. The unification scale comes in the 10¹⁷ GeV mass range, the intermediate (righthanded) scale is quite low, not exceeding the 10⁴ GeV range, and the Weinberg angle is correct. Good prospects are also obtained for proton decay and neutrino masses.     

Fermion masses generated by radiative corrections in aSU(2) L ×SU(2) R ×U(1) B-L model

A new model based on aSU(2) ^R ×SU(2) ^L ×U(1) ^B-L gauge symmetry group is presented. Fermion masses are generated by radiative corrections.     

Phenomenology ofSO(10) unified superstring models with intermediate scaleSU R(2) breaking

Electroweak breaking and the supersymmetric particle spectrum are discussed in superstring theories where the gauge group after compactification isSO(10)×E _s ^′ , and where the gauge symmetry after flux breaking isSU(3)×SU(2)×SU(2)×U(1).