141 research outputs found
Non-Abelian discrete gauge symmetries in 4d string models
We study the realization of non-Abelian discrete gauge symmetries in 4d field
theory and string theory compactifications. The underlying structure
generalizes the Abelian case, and follows from the interplay between gaugings
of non-Abelian isometries of the scalar manifold and field identifications
making axion-like fields periodic. We present several classes of string
constructions realizing non-Abelian discrete gauge symmetries. In particular,
compactifications with torsion homology classes, where non-Abelianity arises
microscopically from the Hanany-Witten effect, or compactifications with
non-Abelian discrete isometry groups, like twisted tori. We finally focus on
the more interesting case of magnetized branes in toroidal compactifications
and quotients thereof (and their heterotic and intersecting duals), in which
the non-Abelian discrete gauge symmetries imply powerful selection rules for
Yukawa couplings of charged matter fields. In particular, in MSSM-like models
they correspond to discrete flavour symmetries constraining the quark and
lepton mass matrices, as we show in specific examples.Comment: 58 pages; minor typos corrected and references adde
Building SO(10) models from F-theory
We revisit local F-theory SO(10) and SU(5) GUTs and analyze their properties
within the framework of the maximal underlying E_8 symmetry in the elliptic
fibration. We consider the symmetry enhancements along the intersections of
seven-branes with the GUT surface and study in detail the embedding of the
abelian factors undergoing monodromies in the covering gauge groups. We combine
flux data from the successive breaking of SO(10) to SU(5) gauge symmetry and
subsequently to the Standard Model one, and further constrain the parameters
determining the models' particle spectra. In order to eliminate dangerous
baryon number violating operators we propose ways to construct matter parity
like symmetries from intrinsic geometric origin. We study implementations of
the resulting constrained scenario in specific examples obtained for a variety
of monodromies.Comment: 53 page
Non-perturbative Vacuum Destabilization and D-brane Dynamics
We analyze the process of string vacuum destabilization due to instanton
induced superpotential couplings which depend linearly on charged fields. These
non-perturbative instabilities result in potentials for the D-brane moduli and
lead to processes of D-brane recombination, motion and partial moduli
stabilization at the non-perturbative vacuum. By using techniques of D-brane
instanton calculus, we explicitly compute this scalar potential in toroidal
orbifold compactifications with magnetized D-branes by summing over the
possible discrete instanton configurations. We illustrate explicitly the
resulting dynamics in globally consistent models. These instabilities can have
phenomenological applications to breaking hidden sector gauge groups, open
string moduli stabilization and supersymmetry breaking. Our results suggest
that breaking supersymmetry by Polonyi-like models in string theory is more
difficult than expected.Comment: 61 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables; Minor corrections, version published
in JHE
Soft branes in supersymmetry-breaking backgrounds
We revisit the analysis of effective field theories resulting from
non-supersymmetric perturbations to supersymmetric flux compactifications of
the type-IIB superstring with an eye towards those resulting from the
backreaction of a small number of anti-D3-branes. Independently of the
background, we show that the low-energy Lagrangian describing the fluctuations
of a stack of probe D3-branes exhibits soft supersymmetry breaking, despite
perturbations to marginal operators that were not fully considered in some
previous treatments. We take this as an indication that the breaking of
supersymmetry by anti-D3-branes or other sources may be spontaneous rather than
explicit. In support of this, we consider the action of an anti-D3-brane
probing an otherwise supersymmetric configuration and identify a candidate for
the corresponding goldstino.Comment: 36+5 pages. References added, minor typos correcte
Multifield Dynamics in Higgs-otic Inflation
In Higgs-otic inflation a complex neutral scalar combination of the and
MSSM Higgs fields plays the role of inflaton in a chaotic fashion. The
potential is protected from large trans-Planckian corrections at large inflaton
if the system is embedded in string theory so that the Higgs fields parametrize
a D-brane position. The inflaton potential is then given by a DBI+CS D-brane
action yielding an approximate linear behaviour at large field. The inflaton
scalar potential is a 2-field model with specific non-canonical kinetic terms.
Previous computations of the cosmological parameters (i.e. scalar and tensor
perturbations) did not take into account the full 2-field character of the
model, ignoring in particular the presence of isocurvature perturbations and
their coupling to the adiabatic modes. It is well known that for generic
2-field potentials such effects may significantly alter the observational
signatures of a given model. We perform a full analysis of adiabatic and
isocurvature perturbations in the Higgs-otic 2-field model. We show that the
predictivity of the model is increased compared to the adiabatic approximation.
Isocurvature perturbations moderately feed back into adiabatic fluctuations.
However, the isocurvature component is exponentially damped by the end of
inflation. The tensor to scalar ratio varies in a region ,
consistent with combined Planck/BICEP results.Comment: 35 pages, 11 figure
Scalar geometry and masses in Calabi-Yau string models
We study the geometry of the scalar manifolds emerging in the no-scale sector
of Kahler moduli and matter fields in generic Calabi-Yau string
compactifications, and describe its implications on scalar masses. We consider
both heterotic and orientifold models and compare their characteristics. We
start from a general formula for the Kahler potential as a function of the
topological compactification data and study the structure of the curvature
tensor. We then determine the conditions for the space to be symmetric and show
that whenever this is the case the heterotic and the orientifold models give
the same scalar manifold. We finally study the structure of scalar masses in
this type of geometries, assuming that a generic superpotential triggers
spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. We show in particular that their behavior
crucially depends on the parameters controlling the departure of the geometry
from the coset situation. We first investigate the average sGoldstino mass in
the hidden sector and its sign, and study the implications on vacuum
metastability and the mass of the lightest scalar. We next examine the soft
scalar masses in the visible sector and their flavor structure, and study the
possibility of realizing a mild form of sequestering relying on a global
symmetry.Comment: 36 pages, no figure
Wavefunctions and the Point of E8 in F-theory
In F-theory GUTs interactions between fields are typically localised at
points of enhanced symmetry in the internal dimensions implying that the
coefficient of the associated operator can be studied using a local
wavefunctions overlap calculation. Some F-theory SU(5) GUT theories may exhibit
a maximum symmetry enhancement at a point to E8, and in this case all the
operators of the theory can be associated to the same point. We take initial
steps towards the study of operators in such theories. We calculate
wavefunctions and their overlaps around a general point of enhancement and
establish constraints on the local form of the fluxes. We then apply the
general results to a simple model at a point of E8 enhancement and calculate
some example operators such as Yukawa couplings and dimension-five couplings
that can lead to proton decay.Comment: 46 page
Holomorphic variables in magnetized brane models with continuous Wilson lines
We analyze the action of the target-space modular group in toroidal type IIB
orientifold compactifications with magnetized D-branes and continuous Wilson
lines. The transformation of matter fields agree with that of twisted fields in
heterotic compactifications, constituting a check of type I/heterotic duality.
We identify the holomorphic N = 1 variables for these compactifications. Matter
fields and closed string moduli are both redefined by open string moduli. The
redefinition of matter fields can be read directly from the perturbative Yukawa
couplings, whereas closed string moduli redefinitions are obtained from D-brane
instanton superpotential couplings. The resulting expressions reproduce and
generalize, in the presence of internal magnetic fields, previous results in
the literature.Comment: 9 pages, no figures; v2: conventions for Wilson lines changed, major
simplifications in expressions, discussions extended, typos corrected, some
references adde
Stringy instanton corrections to N=2 gauge couplings
We discuss a string model where a conformal four-dimensional N=2 gauge theory
receives corrections to its gauge kinetic functions from "stringy" instantons.
These contributions are explicitly evaluated by exploiting the localization
properties of the integral over the stringy instanton moduli space. The model
we consider corresponds to a setup with D7/D3-branes in type I' theory
compactified on T4/Z2 x T2, and possesses a perturbatively computable heterotic
dual. In the heteoric side the corrections to the quadratic gauge couplings are
provided by a 1-loop threshold computation and, under the duality map, match
precisely the first few stringy instanton effects in the type I' setup. This
agreement represents a very non-trivial test of our approach to the exotic
instanton calculus.Comment: 63 pages, 5 figures. V2: final version with minor corrections
published on JHEP05(2010)10
Flux and Instanton Effects in Local F-theory Models and Hierarchical Fermion Masses
We study the deformation induced by fluxes and instanton effects on Yukawa
couplings involving 7-brane intersections in local F-theory constructions. In
the absence of non-perturbative effects, holomorphic Yukawa couplings do not
depend on open string fluxes. On the other hand instanton effects (or gaugino
condensation on distant 7-branes) do induce corrections to the Yukawas. The
leading order effect may also be captured by the presence of closed string
(1,2) IASD fluxes, which give rise to a non-commutative structure. We check
that even in the presence of these non-perturbative effects the holomorphic
Yukawas remain independent of magnetic fluxes. Although fermion mass
hierarchies may be obtained from these non-perturbative effects, they would
give identical Yukawa couplings for D-quark and Lepton masses in SU(5) F-theory
GUT's, in contradiction with experiment. We point out that this problem may be
solved by appropriately normalizing the wavefunctions. We show in a simple toy
model how the presence of hypercharge flux may then be responsible for the
difference between D-quarks and Lepton masses in local SU(5) GUT's.Comment: 84 pages, 1 figure. v2: minor corrections and references adde
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