Sparticle Spectrum and Dark Matter in M-Theory

The phenomenological implications of the eleven dimensional limit of $M$-theory (strongly coupled $E_8\times E_8$) are investigated. In particular we calculate the supersymmetric spectrum subject to constraints of correct electroweak symmetry breaking and the requirement that the lighest supersymmetric particle provides the dark matter of the universe. The $B$-soft term associated with the generation of a $\mu$ term in the superpotential is calculated and its phenomenology is discussed.Comment: LaTeX file 15 pages,1 figure adde

The effect of Wilson line moduli on CP-violation by soft supersymmetry breaking terms

The CP-violating phases in the soft supersymmetry-breaking sector in orbifold compactifications with a continuous Wilson line are investigated. In this case the modular symmetry is the Siegel modular group $Sp(4,Z)$ of genus two. In particular, we study the case that the hidden sector non-perturbative superpotential is determined by the Igusa cusp form ${\cal C}_{12}$ of modular weight 12. The effect of large non-perturbative corrections to the dilaton K\"ahler potential on the resulting CP-violating phases is also investigated.Comment: LaTeX file, 12 pages plus 7 figures, to appear in Phys.Lett.

Cosmological Inflation with orbifold moduli as inflatons

Cosmological inflation is studied in the case where the inflaton is the overall modulus $T$ for an orbifold. General forms of the (non-perturbative) superpotential are considered to ensure that $G=K+{\rm ln}|W|^2$ is modular invariant. We find generically that these models do not produce a potential flat enough for slow roll to a supersymmetric minimum, although we do find a model which produces up to 20 e-folds of inflation to a non-supersymmetric minimum.Comment: LaTeX file, 16 pages including 5 figures, v3 is the published versio

CP-violating phases in the CKM matrix in orbifold compactifications

The picture of CP-violation in orbifold compactifications in which the $T$-modulus is at a complex fixed point of the modular group is studied. CP-violation in the neutral kaon system and in the neutron electric dipole moment are both discussed. The situation where the $T$-modulus takes complex values on the unit circle which are not at a fixed point is also discussed.Comment: LaTeX file 17 page

Particle motion and gravitational lensing in the metric of a dilaton black hole in a de Sitter universe

We consider the metric exterior to a charged dilaton black hole in a de Sitter universe. We study the motion of a test particle in this metric. Conserved quantities are identified and the Hamilton-Jacobi method is employed for the solutions of the equations of motion. At large distances from the black hole the Hubble expansion of the universe modifies the effective potential such that bound orbits could exist up to an upper limit of the angular momentum per mass for the orbiting test particle. We then study the phenomenon of strong field gravitational lensing by these black holes by extending the standard formalism of strong lensing to the non-asymptotically flat dilaton-de Sitter metric. Expressions for the various lensing quantities are obtained in terms of the metric coefficients.Comment: 8 pages, RevTex, 1 eps figures; discussion improved; typos corrected; references adde

CP Violation By Soft Supersymmetry Breaking Terms in Orbifold Compactifications

The possibility of spontaneous breaking of CP symmetry by the expectation values of orbifold moduli is investigated with particular reference to $CP$ violating phases in soft supersymmetry breaking terms. The effect of different mechanisms for stabilizing the dilaton and the form of the non-perturbative superpotential on the existence and size of these phases is studied. Non-perturbative superpotentials involving the absolute modular invariant $j(T)$, such as may arise from F-theory compactifications, are considered.Comment: LaTeX file 12 pages, A reference amended and a typo corrected. To appear in Phys.Lett.

Sparticle spectrum and dark matter in type I string theory with an intermediate scale

The supersymmetric particle spectrum is calculated in type I string theories formulated as orientifold compactifications of type IIB string theory. A string scale at an intermediate value of $10^{11}-10^{12}$ GeV is assumed and extra vector-like matter states are introduced to allow unification of gauge coupling constants to occur at this scale. The qualitative features of the spectrum are compared with Calabi-Yau compactification of the weakly coupled heterotic string and with the eleven dimensional supergravity limit of $M$-theory. Some striking differences are observed. Assuming that the lightest neutralino provides the dark matter in the universe, further constraints on the sparticle spectrum are obtained. Direct detection rates for dark matter are estimated.Comment: LaTeX file (10 pages+10 figures), improved references, v3: typos fixed, accepted for publication in Physics Letters

Standard-like models from intersecting D4-branes

We construct a one-parameter set of intersecting D4-brane models, with six stacks, that yield the (non-supersymmetric) standard model plus extra vector-like matter. Twisted tadpoles and gauge anomalies are cancelled, and the model contains all of the Yukawa couplings to the tachyonic Higgs doublets that are needed to generate mass terms for the fermions. A string scale in the range 1-10 TeV and a Higgs mass not much greater than the current bound is obtained for certain values of the parameters, consistently with the observed values of the gauge coupling constants.Comment: LaTeX file, 12 pages, v3 to appear in Phys. Lett.

Standard-like models from Intersecting D5-branes

We construct intersecting D5-brane orbifold models that yield the (non-supersymmetric) standard model up to vector-like matter and charged-singlet scalars. The models are constrained by the requirement that twisted tadpoles cancel, and that the gauge boson coupled to the weak hypercharge $U(1)_Y$ does not get a string-scale mass via a generalised Green-Schwarz mechanism. Gauge coupling constant ratios close to those measured are easily obtained for reasonable values of the parameters, consistently with having the string scale close to the electroweak scale, as required to avoid the hierarchy problem.Comment: 13 pages, LaTeX file, version to appear in Physics Letters

The Supersymmetric CP problem in Orbifold Compactifications

The possibility of spontaneous breaking of CP symmetry by the expectation values of orbifold moduli is investigated with particular reference to $CP$ violating phases in soft supersymmetry breaking terms. The effect of different mechanisms for stabilizing the dilaton and the form of the non-perturbative superpotential on the existence and size of these phases is studied. Models with modular symmetries which are subgroups of $PSL(2,Z)$, as well as the single overall modulus $T$ case with the full $PSL(2,Z)$ modular symmetry, are discussed. Non-perturbative superpotentials involving the absolute modular invariant $j(T)$, such as may arise from F-theory compactifications, are considered.Comment: LaTeX file 20 pages,16 ps figures (one figure added), two references added and typos corrected. Submitted to NP