Gauge coupling unification with extra Higgs doublets

Gauge coupling unification is studied within the framework where there are extra Higgs doublets and E₆ exotic fields. Supersymmetric models and nonsupersymmetric models are investigated, and a catalog of models with gauge coupling unification is presented.     

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.     

Gauge coupling unification and light exotica in string theory

In this Letter we consider the consequences for the CERN Large Hadron Collider of light vectorlike exotica with fractional electric charge. It is shown that such states are found in orbifold constructions of the heterotic string. Moreover, these exotica are consistent with gauge coupling unification at one loop, even though they do not come in complete multiplets of SU(5).     

Gauge coupling unification,the GUT scale,and magic fields

We consider field sets that do not form complete SU(5) multiplets, but exactly preserve the one-loop MSSM prediction for α₃(MZ)${\alpha }_3(M_Z)$ independently of the value of their mass. Such fields can raise the unification scale in different ways, through a delayed convergence of the gauge couplings, a fake unified running below the GUT scale, or a postponed unification after a hoax crossing at a lower scale. The α₃(MZ)${\alpha }_3(M_Z)$ prediction is independent of the mass of the new fields, while the GUT scale often is not, which allows to vary the GUT scale. Such “magic” fields represent a useful tool in GUT model building. For example, they can be used to fix gauge coupling unification in certain two step breakings of the unified group, to suppress large KK thresholds in models with extra dimensions, or they can be interpreted as messengers of supersymmetry breaking in GMSB models.     

Gauge coupling unification in grand unified theories with anomalous U1 symmetry

We show that in the framework of grand unified theory (GUT) with anomalous U(1)(A) gauge symmetry, the success of the gauge coupling unification in the minimal SU(5) GUT is naturally explained, even if the mass spectrum of superheavy fields does not respect SU(5) symmetry. Because the unification scale for most realizations of the theory becomes smaller than the usual GUT scale, it suggests that the present level of experiments is close to that sufficient to observe proton decay via dimension 6 operators, p-->e+pi.     

Neutralino mass matrix in the nonminimal supersymmetric Standard Model

We study in detail the neutralino mass matrix in the minimal extension of the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model. The model contains a Higgs singlet besides the two Higgs doublets of the minimal model. A number of limiting cases are considered wherein the neutralino mass spectrum can be analytically obtained. Based on these analytical results several useful approximation formulas for the neutralino masses are obtained. Using the constraints from the renormalization group analysis of the model, we obtain the spectrum numerically and study the dependence of the neutralino masses on the parameters of the model. We compare the results of the approximation formulas with the numerical results, and thereby establish the applicability of the these formulae in the different regions of the parameter space.     

Up-down unification just above the supersymmetric threshold

Large corrections to the quark mass matrices at the supersymmetric threshold allow the theory to have identical Yukawa matrices in the superpotential. We demonstrate that up–down unification can take place in a moderate quark–squark alignment scenario with an average squark mass of the order 1 TeV and with . Received: 22 April 1998 / Revised version: 17 September 1998 / Published online: 25 January 1999     

Gauge coupling unification with extra dimensions and correction due to higher dimensional operators

We study the gauge coupling unification with extra dimensions. We take into account corrections due to the higher dimensional operators. We show the prediction of ₃(M_Z) is sensitive to such corrections, even if cΦ/M=O(0.01). We also discuss the b−τ Yukawa unification.     

Composite quarks and leptons in supersymmetric grand unification

Chirality under SUSY-GUT is suggested as a sufficient condition for composites to be massless, in addition to the necessary anomaly matching á la 't Hooft. This results in a very stringent set of self-consistency requirements, which dictates also the number and structure of the generations. As an illustration I present an [SU(3)]³×[SUSY] model. It involves three generations (2 light + 1 heavy) and some other realistic features.     

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.     

Higgs boson properties in the Standard Model and its supersymmetric extensions

We review the realization of the Brout–Englert–Higgs mechanism in the electroweak theory and describe the experimental and theoretical constraints on the mass of the single Higgs boson expected in the minimal Standard Model. We also discuss the couplings of this Higgs boson and its possible decay modes as functions of its unknown mass. We then review the structure of the Higgs sector in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM), noting the importance of loop corrections to the masses of its five physical Higgs bosons. Finally, we discuss some non-minimal models. To cite this article: J. Ellis et al., C. R. Physique 8 (2007).