454 research outputs found
Yukawa hierarchies at the point of in F-theory
We analyse the structure of Yukawa couplings in local SU(5) F-theory models
with enhancement. In this setting the symmetry is broken down to
SU(5) by a 7-brane configuration described by T-branes, all the Yukawa
couplings are generated in the vicinity of a point and only one family of
quarks and leptons is massive at tree-level. The other two families obtain
their masses when non-perturbative effects are taken into account, being
hierarchically lighter than the third family. However, and contrary to previous
results, we find that this hierarchy of fermion masses is not always
appropriate to reproduce measured data. We find instead that different T-brane
configurations breaking to SU(5) give rise to distinct hierarchical
patterns for the holomorphic Yukawa couplings. Only some of these patterns
allow to fit the observed fermion masses with reasonable local model parameter
values, adding further constraints to the construction of F-theory GUTs. We
consider an model where such appropriate hierarchy is realised and
compute its physical Yukawas, showing that realistic charged fermions masses
can indeed be obtained in this case.Comment: 46 pages + appendices, 5 figures. v2, added references and typos
corrected, version accepted on JHEP. v3, typos correcte
Metastable SUSY Breaking, de Sitter Moduli Stabilisation and K\"ahler Moduli Inflation
We study the influence of anomalous U(1) symmetries and their associated
D-terms on the vacuum structure of global field theories once they are coupled
to N=1 supergravity and in the context of string compactifications with moduli
stabilisation. In particular, we focus on a IIB string motivated construction
of the ISS scenario and examine the influence of one additional U(1) symmetry
on the vacuum structure. We point out that in the simplest one-Kahler modulus
compactification, the original ISS vacuum gets generically destabilised by a
runaway behaviour of the potential in the modulus direction. In more general
compactifications with several Kahler moduli, we find a novel realisation of
the LARGE volume scenario with D-term uplifting to de Sitter space and both
D-term and F-term supersymmetry breaking. The structure of soft supersymmetry
breaking terms is determined in the preferred scenario where the standard model
cycle is not stabilised non-perturbatively and found to be flavour universal.
Our scenario also provides a purely supersymmetric realisation of Kahler moduli
(blow-up and fibre) inflation, with similar observational properties as the
original proposals but without the need to include an extra (non-SUSY)
uplifting term.Comment: 38 pages, 8 figures. v2: references added, minor correction
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
On the Effective Description of Large Volume Compactifications
We study the reliability of the Two-Step moduli stabilization in the type-IIB
Large Volume Scenarios with matter and gauge interactions. The general analysis
is based on a family of N=1 Supergravity models with a factorizable Kaehler
invariant function, where the decoupling between two sets of fields without a
mass hierarchy is easily understood. For the Large Volume Scenario particular
analyses are performed for explicit models, one of such developed for the first
time here, finding that the simplified version, where the Dilaton and Complex
structure moduli are regarded as frozen by a previous stabilization, is a
reliable supersymmetric description whenever the neglected fields stand at
their leading F-flatness conditions and be neutral. The terms missed by the
simplified approach are either suppressed by powers of the Calabi-Yau volume,
or are higher order operators in the matter fields, and then irrelevant for the
moduli stabilization rocedure. Although the power of the volume suppressing
such corrections depends on the particular model, up to the mass level it is
independent of the modular weight for the matter fields. This at least for the
models studied here but we give arguments to expect the same in general. These
claims are checked through numerical examples. We discuss how the factorizable
models present a context where despite the lack of a hierarchy with the
supersymmetry breaking scale, the effective theory still has a supersymmetric
description. This can be understood from the fact that it is possible to find
vanishing solution for the auxiliary components of the fields being integrated
out, independently of the remaining dynamics. Our results settle down the
question on the reliability of the way the Dilaton and Complex structure are
treated in type-IIB compactifications with large compact manifold volumina.Comment: 23 pages + 2 appendices (38 pages total). v2: minor improvements,
typos fixed. Version published in JHE
D-branes Wrapped on Fuzzy del Pezzo Surfaces
We construct classical solutions in quiver gauge theories on D0-branes
probing toric del Pezzo singularities in Calabi-Yau manifolds. Our solutions
represent D4-branes wrapped around fuzzy del Pezzo surfaces. We study the
fluctuation spectrum around the fuzzy CP^2 solution in detail. We also comment
on possible applications of our fuzzy del Pezzo surfaces to the fuzzy version
of F-theory, dubbed F(uzz) theory.Comment: 1+42 pages, 9 figures v2: references added v3: statements on the
structure of the Yukawa couplings weakened. published versio
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
Erasmus Language students in a British University – a case study
Students’ assessment of their academic experience is actively sought by Higher Education institutions, as evidenced in the National Student Survey introduced in 2005. Erasmus students, despite their growing numbers, tend to be excluded from these satisfaction surveys, even though they, too, are primary customers of a University. This study aims to present results from bespoke questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with a sample of Erasmus students studying languages in a British University. These methods allow us insight into the experience of these students and their assessment as a primary customer, with a focus on language learning and teaching, university facilities and student support. It investigates to what extent these factors influence their levels of satisfaction and what costs of adaptation if any, they encounter. Although excellent levels of satisfaction were found, some costs affect their experience. They relate to difficulties in adapting to a learning methodology based on a low number of hours and independent learning and to a guidance and support system seen as too stifling. The results portray this cohort’s British University as a well-equipped and well-meaning but ultimately overbearing institution, which may indicate that minimising costs can eliminate some sources of dissatisfaction
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
Political candidates in infotainment programmes and their emotional effects on Twitter: An analysis of the 2015 Spanish general elections pre-campaign season
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Contemporary Social Science on 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/21582041.2017.1367833.[EN] The infotainment format offers candidates an informal setting to show a more personal side of themselves to the electorate, opening themselves up to potential voters. An example of media hybridisation, social networks users can immediately comment on infotainment television programmes, a process known as second screening. These second screeners tend to be especially active in politics. This paper analyses the immediate emotional reaction of these users as they watch infotainment programmes that air during the campaign or pre-campaign seasons and feature political candidates as guests. We have confirmed that second screeners react more emotionally towards the candidate when his or her party is mentioned, and less emotionally when the host displays an aggressive attitude through his or her non-verbal communication. When issues related to the candidate¿s personal lives are discussed, users¿ emotional reactions improve slightly. The relevance of this research stems from the fact that we are witnessing the consolidation of a politics that increasingly strays from ideological questions, and instead focuses on more emotional and personal issues.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad under Grants CSO2013-43960-R and CSO2016-77331-C2-1-R.Baviera, T.; Peris, À.; Cano-Orón, L. (2019). Political candidates in infotainment programmes and their emotional effects on Twitter: An analysis of the 2015 Spanish general elections pre-campaign season. 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D-branes at Toric Singularities: Model Building, Yukawa Couplings and Flavour Physics
We discuss general properties of D-brane model building at toric
singularities. Using dimer techniques to obtain the gauge theory from the
structure of the singularity, we extract results on the matter sector and
superpotential of the corresponding gauge theory. We show that the number of
families in toric phases is always less than or equal to three, with a unique
exception being the zeroth Hirzebruch surface. With the physical input of three
generations we find that the lightest family of quarks is massless and the
masses of the other two can be hierarchically separated. We compute the CKM
matrix for explicit models in this setting and find the singularities possess
sufficient structure to allow for realistic mixing between generations and CP
violation.Comment: 55 pages, v2: typos corrected, minor comments adde
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