Effects of quark family nonuniversality in SU(3)_c X SU(4)_L X U(1)_x models

Flavour changing neutral currents arise in the $SU(3)_c\otimes SU(4)_L\otimes U(1)_X$ extension of the standard model because anomaly cancellation among the fermion families requires one generation of quarks to transform differently from the other two under the gauge group. In the weak basis the distinction between quark families is meaningless. However, in the mass eigenstates basis, the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing matrix motivates us to classify left-handed quarks in families. In this sense there are, in principle, three different assignments of quark weak eigenstates into mass eigenstates. In this work, by using measurements at the Z-pole, atomic parity violation data and experimental input from neutral meson mixing, we examine two different models without exotic electric charges based on the 3-4-1 symmetry, and address the effects of quark family nonuniversality on the bounds on the mixing angle between two of the neutral currents present in the models and on the mass scales $M_{Z_2}$ and $M_{Z_3}$ of the new neutral gauge bosons predicted by the theory. The heaviest family of quarks must transform differently in order to keep lower bounds on $M_{Z_2}$ and $M_{Z_3}$ as low as possible without violating experimental constraints.Comment: 27 pages, 10 tables, 2 figures. Equation (19) and typos corrected. Matches version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Democratic Mass Matrices from Broken O(3)L×O(3)RO(3)_L\times O(3)_R Flavor Symmetry

We impose $O(3)_L\times O(3)_R$ flavor symmetry in the supersymmetric standard model. Three lepton doublets $\ell_i$ transform as an $O(3)_L$ triplet and three charged leptons $\bar e_i$ as an $O(3)_R$ triplet, while Higgs doublets $H$ and $\bar H$ are $O(3)_L\times O(3)_R$ singlets. We discuss a flavor $O(3)_L\times O(3)_R$ breaking mechanism that leads to "successful" phenomenological mass matrices, so-called "democratic" ones, in which the large \n_\mu-\n_\tau mixing is naturally obtained. Three neutrinos have nearly degenerate masses of order 0.1\eV which may be accesible to future double \b-decay experiments. We extend our approach to the quark sector and show that it is well consistent with the observed quark mass hierarchies and the CKM matrix elements. However, the large mass of the top quark requires a relatively large coupling. constant.Comment: 12 pages, LaTex file, No figures, minor correction

Electroweak Supersymmetry with an Approximate U(1)_PQ

A predictive framework for supersymmetry at the TeV scale is presented, which incorporates the Ciafaloni-Pomarol mechanism for the dynamical determination of the \mu parameter of the MSSM. It is replaced by (\lambda S), where S is a singlet field, and the axion becomes a heavy pseudoscalar, G, by adding a mass, m_G, by hand. The explicit breaking of Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry is assumed to be sufficiently weak at the TeV scale that the only observable consequence is the mass m_G. Three models for the explicit PQ breaking are given; but the utility of this framework is that the predictions for all physics at the electroweak scale are independent of the particular model for PQ breaking. Our framework leads to a theory similar to the MSSM, except that \mu is predicted by the Ciafaloni-Pomarol relation, and there are light, weakly-coupled states in the spectrum. The production and cascade decay of superpartners at colliders occurs as in the MSSM, except that there is one extra stage of the cascade chain, with the next-to-LSP decaying to its "superpartner" and \tilde{s}, dramatically altering the collider signatures for supersymmetry. The framework is compatible with terrestrial experiments and astrophysical observations for a wide range of m_G and . If G is as light as possible, 300 keV < m_G < 3 MeV, it can have interesting effects on the radiation energy density during the cosmological eras of nucleosynthesis and acoustic oscillation, leading to predictions for N_{\nu BBN} and N_{\nu CMB} different from 3.Comment: 45 pages, 2 colour figures, a reference added, minor correction

Orbifold Family Unification

We study the possibility of complete family unification in higher-dimensional space-time. Three families of matters in SU(5) grand unified theory are derived from a single bulk multiplet of SU(N) gauge group (N >= 9) in the framework of S^1/Z_2 orbifold models. In the case of the direct orbifold breaking down to the standard model gauge group, there are models in which bulk fields from a single multiplet and a few brane fields compose three families of quarks and leptons.Comment: Comments added, version to appear in Physical Review D (v3); References added (v2); 19 pages (v1

Orbifold Family Unification in SO(2N) Gauge Theory

We study the possibility of family unification on the basis of SO(2N) gauge theory on the five-dimensional space-time, $M^4\times S^1/Z_2$. Several SO(10), $SU(4) \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R$ or SU(5) multiplets come from a single bulk multiplet of SO(2N) after the orbifold breaking. Other multiplets including brane fields are necessary to compose three families of quarks and leptons.Comment: 28 page

A Higher-dimensional Origin of the Inverted Mass Hierarchy for Neutrino

We present successful lepton mass matrices with an inverted mass hierarchy for neutrinos, which follow from a geometrical structure of a (1+5) dimensional space-time where two extra dimensions are compactified on the T^2/Z_3 orbifold. A 5^* and a right-handed neutrino N in each family are localized on each of the equivalent three fixed points of the orbifold while three 10's and Higgs doublets H_u and H_d live in the bulk. An S_3 family symmetry is assumed on three 5^*'s and on three N's, since the three fixed points are equivalent to one another. The Higgs field \phi responsible for the B-L breaking is localized on one of the three fixed points, which generates the inverted hierarchy for the neutrino masses. The baryon asymmetry is well explained in the non-thermal leptogenesis via inflaton decay. We emphasize that the present model predicts the effective neutrino mass, _{ee}, responsible for neutrinoless double beta decays as _{ee}\simeq 50 meV. This will be accessible to future experiments.Comment: 15 page