F-theory GUTs Research Articles

Extra W-boson mass from a D3-brane

Motivated by the recent CDF measurement of the W-boson mass, we study string-based particle physics models which can accommodate this deviation from the Standard Model. We consider an F-theory GUT in which the visible sector is realized on intersecting 7-branes, and extra sector states arise from a probe D3-brane near an E-type Yukawa point. The D3-brane worldvolume naturally realizes a strongly coupled sector which mixes with the Higgs. In the limit where some extra sector states get their mass solely from Higgs vevs, this leads to a contribution to the ρ parameter which is too large, but as the D3-brane is separated from the 7-brane stack, this effect is suppressed, leading to O(1) - O(10) TeV scale extra sector states and a correction to ρ which would be in accord with the CDF result. We also estimate the contribution to the oblique electroweak parameter S, and find that it is compatible with existing constraints. This also leads to additional signatures, including diphoton resonances (as well as other diboson final states) in the O(1) - O(10) TeV range.

On the LHC signatures of SU(5)times U(1)' F-theory motivated models

We study low energy implications of F-theory GUT models based on SU(5) extended by a U(1)' symmetry which couples non-universally to the three families of quarks and leptons. This gauge group arises naturally from the maximal exceptional gauge symmetry of an elliptically fibred internal space, at a single point of enhancement, E_8supset SU(5)times SU(5)'supset SU(5)times U(1)^4. Rank-one fermion mass textures and a tree-level top quark coupling are guaranteed by imposing a Z_2 monodromy group which identifies two abelian factors of the above breaking sequence. The U(1)' factor of the gauge symmetry is an anomaly free linear combination of the three remaining abelian symmetries left over by Z_2. Several classes of models are obtained, distinguished with respect to the U(1)' charges of the representations, and possible extra zero modes coming in vector-like representations. The predictions of these models are investigated and are compared with the LHC results and other related experiments. Particular cases interpreting the B-meson anomalies observed in LHCb and BaBar experiments are also discussed.

A note on non-flat points in the SU(5) \xd7 U(1)PQ F-theory model

Non-flat fibrations often appear in F-theory GUT models, and their interpretation is still somewhat mysterious. In this note we explore this issue in a model of particular phenomenological interest, the global SU(5) × U(1) Peccei-Quinn F-theory model. We present evidence that co-dimension three non-flat fibres give rise to higher order couplings in the effective four-dimensional superpotential — more specifically, in our example we find 10 5 5 5 couplings.

Non-universal Z′ from fluxed GUTs

We make a first systematic study of non-universal TeV scale neutral gauge bosons Z′ arising naturally from a class of F-theory inspired models broken via SU(5) by flux. The phenomenological models we consider may originate from semi-local F-theory GUTs arising from a single E8 point of local enhancement, assuming the minimal Z2 monodromy in order to allow for a renormalisable top quark Yukawa coupling. We classify such non-universal anomaly-free U(1)′ models requiring a minimal low energy spectrum and also allowing for a vector-like family. We discuss to what extent such models can account for the anomalous B-decay ratios RK and RK⁎.

T-branes and α ′ -corrections

We study α’-corrections in multiple D7-brane configurations with non-commuting profiles for their transverse position fields. We focus on T-brane systems, crucial in F-theory GUT model building. There α ′ -corrections modify the D-term piece of the BPS equations which, already at leading order, require a non-primitive Abelian worldvolume flux background. We find that α ′ -corrections may either i) leave this flux background invariant, ii) modify the Abelian non-primitive flux profile, or iii) deform it to a non-Abelian profile. The last case typically occurs when primitive fluxes, a necessary ingredient to build 4d chiral models, are added to the system. We illustrate these three cases by solving the α ′ -corrected D-term equations in explicit examples, and describe their appearance in more general T-brane backgrounds. Finally, we discuss implications of our findings for F-theory GUT local models.

331 models and grand unification: From minimal SU(5) to minimal SU(6)

We consider the possibility of grand unification of the $\mathrm{ SU(3)_c \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes U(1)_X}$ model in an SU(6) gauge unification group. Two possibilities arise. Unlike other conventional grand unified theories, in SU(6) one can embed the $\mathrm{ SU(3)_c \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes U(1)_X}$ model as a subgroup such that different multiplets appear with different multiplicities. Such a scenario may emerge from the flux breaking of the unified group in an E(6) F-theory GUT. This provides new ways of achieving gauge coupling unification in $\mathrm{ SU(3)_c \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes U(1)_X}$ models while providing the radiative origin of neutrino masses. Alternatively, a sequential variant of the $\mathrm{ SU(3)_c \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes U(1)_X}$ model can fit within a minimal SU(6) grand unification, which in turn can be a natural E(6) subgroup. This minimal SU(6) embedding does not require any bulk exotics to account for the chiral families while allowing for a TeV scale $\mathrm{ SU(3)_c \otimes SU(3)_L \otimes U(1)_X}$ model with seesaw-type neutrino masses.

Matrix factorizations and elliptic fibrations

I use matrix factorizations to describe branes at simple singularities of elliptic fibrations. Each node of the corresponding Dynkin diagrams of the ADE-type singularities is associated with one indecomposable matrix factorization which can be deformed into one or more factorizations of lower rank. Branes with internal fluxes arise naturally as bound states of the indecomposable factorizations. Describing branes in such a way avoids the need to resolve singularities. This paper looks at gauge group breaking from E8 fibers down to SU(5) fibers due to the relevance of such fibrations for local F-theory GUT models. A purpose of this paper is to understand how the deformations of the singularity are understood in terms of its matrix factorizations. By systematically factorizing the elliptic fiber equation, this paper discusses geometries which are relevant for building semi-realistic local models. In the process it becomes evident that breaking patterns which are identical at the level of the Kodaira type of the fibers can be inequivalent at the level of matrix factorizations. Therefore the matrix factorization picture supplements information which the conventional less detailed descriptions lack.

Vector-like exotics in F-theory and 750 GeV diphotons

The recent excess in diphoton events around 750 GeV seen by the ATLAS and CMS experiments could be hinting at the existence of new vector-like charged matter around the TeV scale which couples to a singlet. Such a spectrum of exotics arises inevitably in certain classes of F-theory GUTs with hypercharge flux when the GUT symmetry is extended by a U(1) symmetry under which the Higgs fields of the MSSM are not vector-like. The exotics are not vector-like under the U(1) symmetry and therefore their mass is naturally related to its breaking scale. Previously this scale was taken to be close to the GUT scale which led to tension with proton decay, the μ-term magnitude, and too large R-parity violation. The 750 GeV excess provides new motivation for considering breaking the U(1) around the TeV scale, which additionally alleviates the previous problems. We study the possible TeV-scale spectrum in such an SU(5) GUT scenario and show that it is constrained and predictive. Gauge coupling unification can be retained at the accuracy of the MSSM at one loop even though typically the spectrum does not form complete GUT representations. For example the exotics cannot form a complete 10 multiplet but nonetheless happen to behave as one in the beta functions. We present an initial analysis of the diphoton production rates for the exotics spectra and find them compatible with data.

750 GeV diphoton excess from E 6 in F-theory GUTs

We interpret the 750-760 GeV diphoton resonance as one or more of the spinless components of a singlet superfield arising from the three 27-dimensional representations of $E_6$ in F-theory, which also contain three copies of colour-triplet charge $\mp 1/3$ vector-like fermions $D_i,\bar{D}_i$ and inert Higgs doublets to which the singlets may couple. For definiteness we consider (without change) a model that was proposed some time ago which contains such states, as well as bulk exotics, leading to gauge coupling unification. The smoking gun prediction of the model is the existence of other similar spinless resonances, possibly close in mass to 750-760 GeV, decaying into diphotons, as well as the three families of vector-like fermions $D_i,\bar{D}_i$.

Fitting fermion masses and mixings in F-theory GUTs

We analyse the structure of Yukawa couplings in local SU(5) F-theory models with $E_7$ enhancement. These models are the minimal setting in which the whole flavour structure for the MSSM charged fermions is encoded in a small region of the entire compactification space. In this setup the $E_7$ symmetry is broken down to SU(5) by means of a 7-brane T-brane background, and further to the MSSM gauge group by means of a hypercharge flux that also implements doublet-triplet splitting. At tree-level only one family of quarks and charged leptons is massive, while the other two obtain hierarchically smaller masses when stringy non-perturbative effects are taken into account. We find that there is a unique $E_7$ model with such hierarchical flavour structure. The relative simplicity of the model allows to perform the computation of Yukawa couplings for a region of its parameter space wider than previous attempts, obtaining realistic fermion masses and mixings for large parameter regions. Our results are also valid for local models with $E_8$ enhancement, pointing towards a universal structure to describe realistic fermion masses within this framework.

Froggatt-Nielsen meets Mordell-Weil: a phenomenological survey of global F-theory GUTs with U(1)s

In F-theory, U(1) gauge symmetries are encoded in rational sections, which generate the Mordell-Weil group of the elliptic fibration of the compactification space. Recently the possible U(1) charges for global SU(5) F-theory GUTs with smooth rational sections were classified [1]. In this paper we utilize this classification to probe global F-theory models for their phenomenological viability. After imposing an exotic-free MSSM spectrum, anomaly cancellation (related to hypercharge flux GUT breaking in the presence of U(1) gauge symmetries), absence of dimension four and five proton decay operators and other R-parity violating couplings, and the presence of at least the third generation top Yukawa coupling, we generate the remaining quark and lepton Yukawa textures by a Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism. In this process we require that the dangerous couplings are forbidden at leading order, and when re-generated by singlet vevs, lie within the experimental bounds. We scan over all possible configurations, and show that only a small class of U(1) charge assignments and matter distributions satisfy all the requirements. The solutions give rise to the exact MSSM spectrum with realistic quark and lepton Yukawa textures, which are consistent with the CKM and PMNS mixing matrices. We also discuss the geometric realization of these models, and provide pointers to the class of elliptic fibrations with good phenomenological properties.

Phenomenological implications of a minimal F-theory GUT with discrete symmetry

We discuss the origin of both non-Abelian discrete family symmetry and Abelian continuous family symmetry, as well as matter parity, from F-theory SUSY GUTs. We propose a minimal model based on the smallest GUT group SU(5), together with the non-Abelian family symmetry D 4 plus an Abelian family symmetry, where fluxes are responsible for doublet-triplet splitting, leading to a realistic low energy spectrum with phenomenologically acceptable quark and lepton masses and mixing. We show how a Z 2 matter parity emerging from F-theory can suppress proton decay while allowing neutron-antineutron oscillations, providing a distinctive signature of the set-up.

Yukawa couplings in string theory: the case for F-theory GUT's

We study the pattern of Yukawa couplings in local F-theory SU(5) GUT's. Couplings for the third family of quarks and leptons appear at the perturbative level, but to reproduce the observed couplings for the lighter families requires non-perturbative dynamics. We show that corrections due to instanton effects do lead to a Yukawa matrix with a hierarchical structure. Our results apply to both down-like and up- like 10 × 10 × 5 couplings. The models include magnetic fluxes needed for a chiral spectrum and for symmetry breaking down to the Standard Model. We compute the holomorphic couplings via residues and then obtain the physical couplings taking into account the normalization of wavefunction profiles. Combining non-perturbative corrections and magnetic fluxes allows to fit the measured masses and hierarchies of the third and second generations in the Standard Model.

On E 8 and F-theory GUTs

We study correlations between the massless field spectra of F-theory fibrations supporting an SU(5) gauge symmetry extended by Abelian symmetries and the spectra that arise from the group E 8. The adjoint representation of E 8 leads to six different classes of matter spectra upon Higgsing E 8 to SU(5)×U(1) n . Of 27 different smooth F-theory elliptic fibrations constructed in the literature, satisfying certain genericness and flatness criteria, the matter spectrum of only one can be embedded in these six theories, thereby apparently ruling out any connection. We define an extension of the spectrum arising from the adjoint of E 8 by introducing new SU(5)-singlet fields with Abelian charges such that there exists a cubic gauge invariant coupling between any three representations. Higgsing by these new singlets leads to a further 20 classes of spectra, and we find that all the F-theory fibrations can then be embedded in this extended set. These results show that E 8, when extended in this specific way, may still have a role to play in controlling the possible matter spectra in F-theory. We give an explicit geometric example of the presence of the extending singlets and their Higgsing. We discuss some phenomenological applications of the new set of theories, in particular due to the existence of a ℤ2 matter parity. Finally we make some comments on the Heterotic duals of the F-theory fibrations which extend E 8 in this way.

Yukawa hierarchies at the point of E8 in F-theory

We analyse the structure of Yukawa couplings in local SU(5) F-theory models with $E_8$ enhancement. In this setting the $E_8$ 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 $E_8$ 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 $E_8$ 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.

Tate’s algorithm for F-theory GUTs with two U(1)s

We present a systematic study of elliptic fibrations for F-theory realizations of gauge theories with two U(1) factors. In particular, we determine a new class of SU(5) x U(1)^2 fibrations, which can be used to engineer Grand Unified Theories, with multiple, differently charged, 10 matter representations. To determine these models we apply Tate's algorithm to elliptic fibrations with two U(1) symmetries, which are realized in terms of a cubic in P^2. In the process, we find fibers which are not characterized solely in terms of vanishing orders, but with some additional specialization, which plays a key role in the construction of these novel SU(5) models with multiple 10 matter. We also determine a table of Tate-like forms for Kodaira fibers with two U(1)s.

The vertical, the horizontal and the rest: anatomy of the middle cohomology of Calabi-Yau fourfolds and F-theory applications

The four-form field strength in F-theory compactifications on Calabi-Yau fourfolds takes its value in the middle cohomology group $H^4$. The middle cohomology is decomposed into a vertical, a horizontal and a remaining component, all three of which are present in general. We argue that a flux along the remaining or vertical component may break some symmetry, while a purely horizontal flux does not influence the unbroken part of the gauge group or the net chirality of charged matter fields. This makes the decomposition crucial to the counting of flux vacua in the context of F-theory GUTs. We use mirror symmetry to derive a combinatorial formula for the dimensions of these components applicable to any toric Calabi--Yau hypersurface, and also make a partial attempt at providing a geometric characterization of the four-cycles Poincar\'e dual to the remaining component of $H^4$. It is also found in general elliptic Calabi-Yau fourfolds supporting SU(5) gauge symmetry that a remaining component can be present, for example, in a form crucial to the symmetry breaking ${\rm SU}(5) \longrightarrow {\rm SU}(3)_C \times {\rm SU}(2)_L \times {\rm U}(1)_Y$. The dimension of the horizontal component is used to derive an estimate of the statistical distribution of the number of generations and the rank of 7-brane gauge groups in the landscape of F-theory flux vacua.

Precision unification and proton decay in F-theory GUTs with high scale supersymmetry

F-theory GUTs provide a promising UV completion for models with approximate gauge coupling unification, such as the (non-supersymmetric) Standard Model. More specifically, if the superparters have masses well above the TeV scale, the resulting imperfection in unification can be accounted for by the, in principle calculable, classical F-theory correction at the high scale. In this paper we argue for the correct form of the F-theory corrections to unification, including KK mode loop effects. However, the price of compensating the imprecise unification in such High Scale SUSY models with F-theory corrections is that the GUT scale is lowered, potentially leading to a dangerously high proton decay rate from dimension-6 operators. We analyse the possibility of suppressing the decay rate by the localization of $X,Y$ gauge bosons in higher dimensions. While this effect can be very strong for the zero modes, we find that in the simplest models of this type it is difficult to realize a significant suppression for higher modes (Landau levels). Notably, in the absence of substantial suppressions to the proton decay rate, the superpartners must be lighter than 100 TeV to satisfy proton decay constraints. We highlight that multiple correlated signals of proton decay could verify this scenario.

Discrete family symmetry from F-theory GUTs

Abstract We consider realistic F-theory GUT models based on discrete family symmetries A 4 and S 3, combined with SU(5) GUT, comparing our results to existing field theory models based on these groups. We provide an explicit calculation to support the emergence of the family symmetry from the discrete monodromies arising in F-theory. We work within the spectral cover picture where in the present context the discrete symmetries are associated to monodromies among the roots of a five degree polynomial and hence constitute a subgroup of the S 5 permutation symmetry. We focus on the cases of A 4 and S 3 subgroups, motivated by successful phenomenological models interpreting the fermion mass hierarchy and in particular the neutrino data. More precisely, we study the implications on the effective field theories by analysing the relevant discriminants and the topological properties of the polynomial coefficients, while we propose a discrete version of the doublet-triplet splitting mechanism.

Rational F-theory GUTs without exotics

We construct F-theory GUT models without exotic matter, leading to the MSSM matter spectrum with potential singlet extensions. The interplay of engineering explicit geometric setups, absence of four-dimensional anomalies, and realistic phenomenology of the couplings places severe constraints on the allowed local models in a given geometry. In constructions based on the spectral cover we find no model satisfying all these requirements. We then provide a survey of models with additional U(1) symmetries arising from rational sections of the elliptic fibration in toric constructions and obtain phenomenologically appealing models based on SU(5) tops. Furthermore we perform a bottom-up exploration beyond the toric section constructions discussed in the literature so far and identify benchmark models passing all our criteria, which can serve as a guideline for future geometric engineering.