Set Unification

The unification problem in algebras capable of describing sets has been tackled, directly or indirectly, by many researchers and it finds important applications in various research areas--e.g., deductive databases, theorem proving, static analysis, rapid software prototyping. The various solutions proposed are spread across a large literature. In this paper we provide a uniform presentation of unification of sets, formalizing it at the level of set theory. We address the problem of deciding existence of solutions at an abstract level. This provides also the ability to classify different types of set unification problems. Unification algorithms are uniformly proposed to solve the unification problem in each of such classes. The algorithms presented are partly drawn from the literature--and properly revisited and analyzed--and partly novel proposals. In particular, we present a new goal-driven algorithm for general ACI1 unification and a new simpler algorithm for general (Ab)(Cl) unification.Comment: 58 pages, 9 figures, 1 table. To appear in Theory and Practice of Logic Programming (TPLP

SO(10) unification in noncommutative geometry revisited

We investigate the SO(10)-unification model in a Lie algebraic formulation of noncommutative geometry. The SO(10)-symmetry is broken by a 45-Higgs and the Majorana mass term for the right neutrinos (126-Higgs) to the standard model structure group. We study the case that the fermion masses are as general as possible, which leads to two 10-multiplets, four 120-multiplets and two additional 126-multiplets of Higgs fields. This Higgs structure differs considerably from the two Higgs multiplets 16 \otimes 16^* and 16^c \otimes 16^* used by Chamseddine and Fr\"ohlich. We find the usual tree-level predictions of noncommutative geometry m_W=(1/2)m_t, \sin^2\theta_W=(3/8) and g_2=g_3 as well as m_H \leq m_t.Comment: 25 pages, LaTeX 2e. v2: typos corrected and footnote on Super-Kamiokande results adde

Decoupling heavy sparticles in Effective SUSY scenarios: Unification, Higgs masses and tachyon bounds

Using two-loop renormalization group equations implementing the decoupling of heavy scalars, Effective SUSY scenarios are studied in the limit in which there is a single low energy Higgs field. Gauge coupling unification is shown to hold with similar or better precision than in standard MSSM scenarios. b-tau unification is examined, and Higgs masses are computed using the effective potential, including two-loop contributions from scalars. A 125 GeV Higgs is compatible with stops/sbottoms at around 300 GeV with non-universal boundary conditions at the scale of the heavy sparticles if some of the trilinear couplings at this scale take values of the order of 1-2 TeV; if more constrained boundary conditions inspired by msugra or gauge mediation are set at a higher scale, heavier colored sparticles are required in general. Finally, since the decoupled RG flow for third-generation scalar masses departs very significantly from the MSSM DR-bar one, tachyon bounds for light scalars are revisited and shown to be relaxed by up to a TeV or more.Comment: 35 pages, 17 figures. v2: Updated some scans, allowing for changes in sign of some parameters, minor improvements. v3: Typos corrected in formulae in the appendices, added some clarifying remarks about flavor mixing being ignore

SU(5)xSU(5) unification revisited

The idea of grand unification in a minimal supersymmetric SU(5)xSU(5) framework is revisited. It is shown that the unification of gauge couplings into a unique coupling constant can be achieved at a high-energy scale compatible with proton decay constraints. This requires the addition of a minimal particle content at intermediate energy scales. In particular, the introduction of the SU(2)_L triplets belonging to the (15,1)+(\bar{15},1) representations, as well as of the scalar triplet \Sigma_3 and octet \Sigma_8 in the (24,1) representation, turns out to be crucial for unification. The masses of these intermediate particles can vary over a wide range, and even lie in the TeV region. In contrast, the exotic vector-like fermions must be heavy enough and have masses above 10^10 GeV. We also show that, if the SU(5)xSU(5) theory is embedded into a heterotic string scenario, it is not possible to achieve gauge coupling unification with gravity at the perturbative string scale.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure