SU(8) grand unification

A grand unified gauge theory based on the group SU(8) is presented. The set of rules motivating the choice of SU(8) is given. The particle content of the theory suggests a natural embedding of a horizontal SU(3) symmetry in the SU(8) grand unified symmetry.     

Cosmological consequences of grand unification beyond SU(5)

We examine the cosmological consequences of new types of fermions generally present in GUTs based on unitary groups larger than SU(5) which break down to SU(5) at ultralarge energies. We find that some SU(5) singlet fermions in such theories tend to have masses small compared to 10¹⁵ GeV. If sufficiently light (or massless) such particles affect He abundance unacceptably. If heavier (but still light compared to 10¹⁵ GeV) the decays of such particles generate entropy and thus greatly suppress n_B/n_γ.Such theories also contain ultraheavy fermions. Their decays are shown to be a prime source of singlet fermions. It is also shown that the decays of ultraheavy fermions generate entropy which tends to suppress the contribution to n_B/n_γ from usual mechanisms. These decays may themselves, however, generate a baryon asymmetry.     

Gauge hierarchies of SU(N) grand unification

The structure of spontaneous breaking of SU(N) gauge symmetry for grand unification is investigated. The results obtained are applied to the analysis of SU(8) symmetry for which possible ways of breaking and intermediate symmetries are considered. It is assumed that the SU(8) group unifies the subgroups of colour, standard electroweak and horizontal symmetries. We find conditions which it is necessary to impose on the vacuum expectation values of Higgs multiplets to provide an arbitrary breaking pattern of SU(N) symmetry and conserve any intermediate symmetry. If in the SU(8) models considered fermions and mirror fermions do not violate the (V-A) and (V+A) structure of weak interactions, then their masses should not be greater than ～10² GeV. It is also shown that the contributions of fermion and Higgs multiplets to the renormalization group equation for the coupling constant of any subgroup of SU(N) are identical. Renormalization group identities for the case of arbitrary SU(N) breaking are given where the contribution of Higgs multiplets have been taken into account (but they cancel each other). Using these identities one can calculate the mass values for the breaking of the intermediate symmetries in the SU(8) models, and also exclude part of the possible breaking patterns.     

Four-dimensional heterotic string models with SU(5) and SO(10) grand unification

The gauge group, quark and lepton generations, Higgs scalar structure, couplings of quarks and leptons to Higgs scalars and to colour triplet scalars, and the gauge symmetry breaking are studied for a class of four-dimensional heterotic string models whose boundary conditions include third-integral twists.     

SU(7) Electroweak unification

Electroweak unification is obtained in anSU(7) model at a mass scale 3×10¹⁰≦M≦3×10¹⁶ GeV's, with left-right symmetric subgroups and sin² θ _w (M)=3/8. BelowM, the model reduces toSU(3) _L ×SU(3) _R , the flavor sector of the “trinification theory” of Glashow et al., or of theE ₆ grand unified theory. This model predicts a natural massless neutrino, and fractionally charged leptons with masses in theM regime.