Spinor-vector duality in heterotic string vacua

Classification of the N=1 space–time supersymmetric fermionic Z₂×Z₂ heterotic-string vacua with symmetric internal shifts, revealed a novel spinor-vector duality symmetry over the entire space of vacua, where the S_t↔V duality interchanges the spinor plus anti-spinor representations with vector representations. In this paper we demonstrate that the spinor-vector duality exists also in fermionic Z₂ heterotic string models, which preserve N=2 space–time supersymmetry. In this case the interchange is between spinorial and vectorial representations of the unbroken SO(12) GUT symmetry. We provide a general algebraic proof for the existence of the S_t↔V duality map. We present a novel basis to generate the free fermionic models in which the ten-dimensional gauge degrees of freedom are grouped into four groups of four, each generating an SO(8) modular block. In the new basis the GUT symmetries are produced by generators arising from the trivial and non-trivial sectors, and due to the triality property of the SO(8) representations. Thus, while in the new basis the appearance of GUT symmetries is more cumbersome, it may be more instrumental in revealing the duality symmetries that underly the string vacua.     

Minimal standard heterotic string models

Three generation heterotic string vacua in the free fermionic formulation gave rise to models with solely the MSSM states in the observable standard model charged sector. The relation of these models to Z₂×Z₂ orbifold compactifications dictates that they produce three pairs of untwisted Higgs multiplets. The reduction to one pair relies on the analysis of supersymmetric flat directions, which give a superheavy mass to the dispensable Higgs states. We explore the removal of the extra Higgs representations by using the free fermion boundary conditions, and hence we work directly at the string level, rather than in the effective low energy field theory. We present a general mechanism that achieves this reduction by using asymmetric boundary conditions between the left- and right-moving internal fermions. We incorporate this mechanism in explicit string models containing three twisted generations and a single untwisted Higgs doublet pair. We further demonstrate that an additional effect of the asymmetric boundary conditions is to substantially reduce the supersymmetric moduli space.     

Orbifold compactification of heterotic string theories

The internal degrees of freedom of twisted heterotic strings are discussed using the theory of Kac-Moody algebras.     

The heterotic string is a soliton

It is shown that the Type IIA superstring compactified on K3 has a smooth string soliton with the same zero mode structure as the heterotic string compactified on a four-torus, thus providing new evidence for a conjectured exact duality between the two six-dimensional string theories. The chiral worldsheet bosons arise as zero modes of Ramond-Ramond fields of the IIA string theory and live on a signature (20,4) even, self-dual lattice. Stable, finite loops of soliton string provide the charged Ramond-Ramond states necessary for enhanced gauge symmetries at degeneration points of the K3 surface. It is also shown that Type IIB strings toroidally compactified to six dimensions have a multiplet of string solutions with Type II worldsheets.     

R parity from the heterotic string

In T-duality invariant effective supergravity with gaugino condensation as the mechanism for supersymmetry breaking, there is a residual discrete symmetry that could play the role of R parity in supersymmetric extensions of the standard model.     

Seesaw neutrinos from the heterotic string

We study the possibility of realizing the neutrino seesaw mechanism in the E(8) x E(8) heterotic string. In particular, we consider its Z6 orbifold compactifications leading to the supersymmetric standard model gauge group and matter content. We find that these models possess all the necessary ingredients for the seesaw mechanism, including the required Dirac Yukawa couplings and large Majorana mass terms. We argue that this situation is quite common in heterotic orbifolds. In contrast with the conventional seesaw of grand unified theories (GUTs), no large GUT representations are needed to generate the Majorana mass terms. The total number of right-handed neutrinos can be very large, up to O(100).     

Five-brane superpotentials and heterotic/F-theory duality

Under heterotic/F-theory duality it was argued that a wide class of heterotic five-branes is mapped into the geometry of an F-theory compactification manifold. In four-dimensional compactifications this identifies a five-brane wrapped on a curve in the base of an elliptically fibered Calabi–Yau threefold with a specific F-theory Calabi–Yau fourfold containing the blow-up of the five-brane curve. We argue that this duality can be reformulated by first constructing a non-Calabi–Yau heterotic threefold by blowing up the curve of the five-brane into a divisor with five-brane flux. Employing heterotic/F-theory duality this leads us to the construction of a Calabi–Yau fourfold and four-form flux. Moreover, we obtain an explicit map between the five-brane superpotential and an F-theory flux superpotential. The map of the open–closed deformation problem of a five-brane in a compact Calabi–Yau threefold into a deformation problem of complex structures on a dual Calabi–Yau fourfold with four-form flux provides a powerful tool to explicitly compute the five-brane superpotential.     

Four-dimensional heterotic string models with third-integral twists

The massless string states are constructed for a four-dimensional heterotic string model with the U(5) gauge group in the untwisted sector. The complete observable gauge group, quark and lepton generations, Higgs scalar structure, quark and lepton mass matrix, couplings to colour triplet scalars, and gauge symmetry breaking are studied for this model.     

Supersymmetric sigma models and the heterotic string

We define the (1 + 1)-dimensional supersymmetry algebra of type (p, q) to be that generated by p right-handed Majorana-Weyl supercharges and q left-handed ones. We construct the non-linear sigma models with supersymmetry of type (1,0) and (2,0) and discuss their geometry and their relevance to compactifications of the heterotic superstring. The sigma-model anomalies can be cancelled by a mechanism closely related to that used by Green and Schwarz to cancel gravitational and Yang-Mills anomalies for the superstring.     

Heterotic string theory: (II). The interacting heterotic string

The theory of interacting heterotic strings is presented. Vertex operators are derived in both the bosonic and fermionic formulations of the theory and are shown to be consistent with gauge invariance, Lorentz invariance, and supersymmetry. Three- and four-point amplitudes for the scattering of massless string states are calculated and used to derive the low-energy field theory limit of the heterotic string. Divergences in string theories are discussed and it is shown that one-loop heterotic string amplitudes are finite and modular invariant only for gauge group E₈×E₈ or spin (32)/Z₂.     

Spacetime supersymmetry breaking in heterotic string theory

A simple mechanism for spacetime supersymmetry breaking in the ten-dimensional heterotic string theory is proposed. We present a heterotic string model with a hidden two-dimensional sigma-model sector which can induce desirably small supersymmetry breaking, without upsetting the zero value of the cosmological constant, through a topological instanton effect due to an abelian gauge field on the string world sheet. We find that the consistency condition of the gravitino field equation is satisfied for some configurations even after supersymmetry breaking.     

Supersymmetric standard model from the heterotic string

We present a [FORMULA: SEE TEXT] orbifold compactification of the E8xE8 heterotic string which leads to the (supersymmetric) standard model gauge group and matter content. The quarks and leptons appear as three 16-plets of SO(10), whereas the Higgs fields do not form complete SO(10) multiplets. The model has large vacuum degeneracy. For generic vacua, no exotic states appear at low energies and the model is consistent with gauge coupling unification. The top quark Yukawa coupling arises from gauge interactions and is of the order of the gauge couplings, whereas the other Yukawa couplings are suppressed.