Standard-like Models as Type IIB Flux Vacua

We construct new semi-realistic Type IIB flux vacua on $Z_2\times Z_2$ orientifolds with three- and four- Standard Model (SM) families and up to three units of quantized flux. The open-string sector is comprised of magnetized D-branes and is T-dual to supersymmetric intersecting D6-brane constructions. The SM sector contains magnetized D9-branes with negative D3-brane charge contribution. There are large classes of such models and we present explicit constructions for representative ones. In addition to models with one and two units of quantized flux, we also construct the first three- and four-family Standard-like models with supersymmetric fluxes, i.e. comprising three units of quantized flux. Supergravity fluxes are due to the self-dual NS-NS and R-R three-form field strength and they fix the toroidal complex structure moduli and the dilaton. The supersymmetry conditions for the D-brane sector fix in some models all three toroidal K\"ahler moduli. We also provide examples where toroidal K\" ahler moduli are fixed by strong gauge dynamics on the ``hidden sector'' D7-brane. Most of the models possess Higgs doublet pairs with Yukawa couplings that can generate masses for quarks and leptons. The models have (mainly right-) chiral exotics.Comment: 31 page

Flavor changing neutral current constraints on standard-like orbifold models

We examine for standard-like orbifold compactification models the constraints due to quarks and leptons generation non-universality of soft supersymmetry breaking interactions. We follow the approach initiated by Ibanez and Lust and developed by Brignole, Ibanez and Munoz. The breaking of supersymmetry is represented in terms of dilaton and moduli auxiliary field components and, consistently with a vanishing cosmological constant, is parametrized in terms of the dilaton-moduli mixing angle $\theta$ and the gravitino mass scale $m_g$. The soft breaking interactions (gaugino masses, squarks and sleptons mass matrices, scalars interactions A and B coupling constants) are calculable as a function of these parameters and of the discrete set of modular weight parameters specifying the modular transformation properties of the low-energy fields. We solve the renormalization group one-loop equations for the full set of gauge, Yukawa and supersymmetry breaking coupling constants.Comment: 32 page

Axions in gravity with torsion

We study a scenario allowing a solution of the strong charge parity problem via the Peccei-Quinn mechanism, implemented in gravity with torsion. In this framework there appears a torsion-related pseudoscalar field known as Kalb-Ramond axion. We compare it with the so-called Barbero-Immirzi axion recently proposed in the literature also in the context of the gravity with torsion. We show that they are equivalent from the viewpoint of the effective theory. The phenomenology of these torsion-descended axions is completely determined by the Planck scale without any additional model parameters. These axions are very light and very weakly interacting with ordinary matter. We briefly comment on their astrophysical and cosmological implications in view of the recent BICEP2 and Planck data.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, comments and references added, published versio

Multiple Schr\"odinger pictures and dynamics in shortcuts to adiabaticity

A Schr\"odinger equation may be transformed by unitary operators into dynamical equations in different interaction pictures which share with it a common physical frame, i.e., the same underlying interactions, processes and dynamics. In contrast to this standard scenario, other relations are also possible, such as a common interaction-picture dynamical equation corresponding to several Schr\"odinger equations that represent different physics. This may enable us to design alternative and feasible experimental routes for operations that are a priori difficult or impossible to perform. The power of this concept is exemplified by engineering Hamiltonians that improve the performance or make realizable several shortcuts to adiabaticity

Neutrino Oscillations from Supersymmetry without R-parity - Its Implications on the Flavor Structure of the Theory

We discuss here some flavor structure aspects of the complete theory of supersymmetry without R-parity addressed from the perspective of fitting neutrino oscillation data based on the recent Super-Kamiokande result. The single-VEV parametrization of supersymmetry without R-parity is first reviewed, illustrating some important features not generally appreciated. For the flavor structure discussions, a naive, flavor model independent, analysis is presented, from which a few interesting things can be learned.Comment: 1+10 pages latex, no figure; Invited talk at NANP 99 conference, Dubna (Jun 28 - Jul 3) --- submission for the proceeding

A Classification of 3-Family Grand Unification in String Theory I. The SO(10) and E_6 Models

We give a classification of 3-family SO(10) and E_6 grand unification in string theory within the framework of conformal field theory and asymmetric orbifolds. We argue that the construction of such models in the heterotic string theory requires certain Z_6 asymmetric orbifolds that include a Z_3 outer-automorphism, the latter yielding a level-3 current algebra for the grand unification gauge group SO(10) or E_6. We then classify all such Z_6 asymmetric orbifolds that result in models with a non-abelian hidden sector. All models classified in this paper have only one adjoint (but no other higher representation) Higgs field in the grand unified gauge group. In addition, all of them are completely anomaly free. There are two types of such 3-family models. The first type consists of the unique SO(10) model with SU(2) X SU(2) X SU(2) as its hidden sector (which is not asymptotically-free at the string scale). This SO(10) model has 4 left-handed and 1 right-handed 16s. The second type is described by a moduli space containing 17 models (distinguished by their massless spectra). All these models have an SU(2) hidden sector, and 5 left-handed and 2 right-handed families in the grand unified gauge group. One of these models is the unique E_6 model with an asymptotically-free SU(2) hidden sector. The others are SO(10) models, 8 of them with an asymptotically free hidden sector at the string scale.Comment: 35 pages, Revtex 3.0, one eps figure (to appear in Phys. Rev. D

Aspects of Type I String Phenomenology

We study different phenomenological aspects of compact, D=4, N=1 Type IIB orientifolds considered as models for unification of the standard model and gravity. We discuss the structure of the compactification, string and unification scales depending on the different possible D-brane configurations. It is emphasized that in the context of Type I models the $M_W/M_{Planck}$ hierarchy problem is substantially alleviated and may be generated by geometrical factors. We obtain the effective low-energy supergravity Lagrangian and derive the form of soft SUSY-breaking terms under the assumption of dilaton/moduli dominance. We also discuss the role of anomalous U(1)'s and of twisted moduli in this class of theories. A novel mechanism based on the role of singularities is suggested to achieve consistency with gauge coupling unification in low string scale models.Comment: 47 pages, Latex2e, 4 EPS figures, using epsfig. Minor typos and references adde