Intermediate Symmetry Breaking Research Articles

Non-supersymmetric SO(10) models with Gauge and Yukawa coupling unification

We study a non-supersymmetric SO(10) Grand Unification Theory with a very high energy intermediate symmetry breaking scale in which not only gauge but also Yukawa coupling unification are enforced via suitable threshold corrections and matching conditions. For gauge unification, we focus on a few symmetry breaking patterns with the intermediate gauge groups text {SU}(4)_{textrm{C}} times text {SU}(2)_{textrm{L}} times text {SU}(2)_{textrm{R}} (Pati–Salam) and text {SU}(3)_{textrm{C}} times text {SU}(2)_{textrm{L}} times text {SU}(2)_{textrm{R}}times text {U}(1)_{{textrm{B}}-{textrm{L}}} (minimal left-right symmetry) assuming an additional global U(1) Peccei–Quinn symmetry, and having the Standard Model supplemented by a second Higgs doublet field at the electroweak scale. We derive the conditions as well as the approximate analytical solutions for the unification of the gauge coupling constants at the two-loop level and discuss the constraints from proton decay on the resulting high scale. Specializing to the case of the Pati–Salam intermediate breaking pattern, we then impose also the unification of the Yukawa couplings of third generation fermions at the high scale, again at the two-loop level. In the considered context, Yukawa unification implies a relation between the fermion couplings to the 10- and 126-dimensional scalar representations of the SO(10) group. We consider one such possible relation which is obtainable in an text {E}_6 model where the previous two scalar fields are part of a single multiplet. Taking into account some phenomenological features such as the absence of flavor changing neutral currents at tree-level, we derive constraints on the parameters of the low energy model, in particular on the ratio of the two Higgs doublets vacuum expectation values tan beta .

Tracking down the route to the SM with inflation and gravitational waves

We explore supersymmetric SO(10) models predicting observable proton decay and various topological defects which produce different shapes and strengths of gravitational wave backgrounds depending on the scales of intermediate symmetry breaking and inflation as well. We compare these to their non-supersymmetric counterparts. By identifying the scales at which gravitational wave signals appear, we would be able to track down a particular breaking chain and discern if it has a supersymmetric origin or not. It would also be useful to observe gravitational waves from more than one source among all possible topological defects and first order phase transitions for a realistic breaking chain. For these purposes, we work out specific examples in which the grand unification and relevant intermediate scales are calculable explicitly. It turns out that examples with gravitational waves from different sources are quite difficult to obtain, and the predicted gravitational wave profiles from domain walls and first order phase transitions obtained in some examples will require detectors in the kHz to MHz region.

Axion model with the SU(6) unification

We propose an SU(6) unified theory that solves the strong $CP$ problem with a high-quality axion. This is achieved by an automatic global Peccei-Quinn $\mathrm{U}(1{)}_{\mathrm{PQ}}$ symmetry and the gauged discrete ${\mathbb{Z}}_{4\mathcal{R}}$ symmetry. With the axion mass predictions of ${m}_{a}\ensuremath{\sim}\mathcal{O}({10}^{\ensuremath{-}3})\ensuremath{-}\mathcal{O}(0.1)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$, as well as a universal axion-photon coupling in the unification models, the QCD axion can be probed in the upcoming experiments of IAXO. An intermediate gauge symmetry breaking scale characterized by the axion decay constant is obtained by the Peccei-Quinn quality argument, which is likely to achieve a successful leptogenesis through the type-I seesaw mechanism. The Higgs sector at the electroweak scale is a type-II two-Higgs-doublet model. The gauge coupling unification is possible with the supersymmetric extension.

Yukawa coupling unification in non-supersymmetric SO(10) models with an intermediate scale

We discuss the possibility of unifying in a simple and economical manner the Yukawa couplings of third generation fermions in a non-supersymmetric SO(10) model with an intermediate symmetry breaking, focusing on two possible patterns with intermediate Pati-Salam and minimal left-right groups. For this purpose, we assume a minimal Yukawa sector at high energy, starting with two Higgs bi-doublets at the intermediate scale which then simply reduce to a two Higgs doublet model at the electroweak scale. We first enforce gauge coupling unification at the two-loop level by including the threshold corrections in the renormalization group running which are generated by the heavy fields that appear at the intermediate symmetry breaking scale. We then study the running of the Yukawa couplings of the top quark, bottom quark and tau lepton at two-loops in these two breaking schemes, when the appropriate matching conditions are imposed. We find that the unification of the third family Yukawa couplings can be achieved while retaining a viable spectrum, provided that the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublet fields is large, tan⁡β≈60.

Threshold effects in SO(10) models with one intermediate breaking scale

Despite the successes of the Standard Model of particle physics, it is known to suffer from a number of deficiencies. Several of these can be addressed within non-supersymmetric theories of grand unification based on text {SO}(10). However, achieving gauge coupling unification in such theories is known to require additional physics below the unification scale, such as symmetry breaking in multiple steps. Many such models are disfavored due to bounds on the proton lifetime. Corrections arising from threshold effects can, however, modify these conclusions. We analyze all seven relevant breaking chains with one intermediate symmetry breaking scale, assuming the “survival hypothesis” for the scalar masses. Two are allowed by proton lifetime and two are disfavored by a failure to unify the gauge couplings. The remaining three unify at a too low scale, but can be salvaged by various amounts of threshold corrections. We parametrize this and thereby rank the models by the size of the threshold corrections required to save them.

Running of fermion observables in non-supersymmetric SO(10) models

We investigate the complete renormalization group running of fermion observables in two different realistic non-supersymmetric models based on the gauge group SO(10) with intermediate symmetry breaking for both normal and inverted neutrino mass orderings. Contrary to results of previous works, we find that the model with the more minimal Yukawa sector of the Lagrangian fails to reproduce the measured values of observables at the electroweak scale, whereas the model with the more extended Yukawa sector can do so if the neutrino masses have normal ordering. The difficulty in finding acceptable fits to measured data is a result of the added complexity from the effect of an intermediate symmetry breaking as well as tension in the value of the leptonic mixing angle {theta}_{{}^{23}}^{ell } .

B-decay anomalies and scalar leptoquarks in unified Pati-Salam models from noncommutative geometry

Motivated by possible scalar-leptoquark explanations of the recently reported B-decay anomalies, we investigate whether the required leptoquarks can be accommodated within models based on noncommutative geometry (NCG). The models considered have the gauge structure of Pati-Salam models, SU(4) × SU(2)L × SU(2)R, with gauge coupling unification at a single scale. In one of the models, we find a unique scalar leptoquark with quantum numbers {left(3,1,-frac{1}{3}right)}_{321} , originating from a complex multiplet (6, 1, 1)422, which can potentially explain the B-decay anomalies if its mass is on the order of a few TeV. The unification of couplings can be realized with the inclusion of a single step of intermediate symmetry breaking. The scalar leptoquark under consideration does not contribute to proton decay due to the absence of diquark couplings, as dictated by the underlying noncommutative geometry.

Neutrino mass and neutrinoless double beta decay in SO(10) GUT with Pati–Salam symmetry

We demonstrate how a class of non-supersymmetric SO(10) GUT with asymmetric left–right theory SU(2)L × U(1)R × U(1)B−L × SU(3)C and Pati–Salam theory SU(2)L × SU(2)R × SU(4)C as intermediate symmetry breaking steps leads to successful gauge coupling unification satisfying proton decay constraints. The motivation behind this work is two fold: firstly to study the renormalization group evolution equations for gauge couplings by keeping right-handed neutral gauge boson ZR around LHC energy range leading interesting dilepton searches at collider while fixing charge partner of the gauge boson WR at very high scale; secondly to explain neutrino masses and associated lepton number violating process like neutrinoless double beta decay in three possible cases depending on how SU(2)L × U(1)R × U(1)B−L × SU(3)C breaks down to SM. The presence of Pati–Salam symmetry and Pati–Salam symmetry with D-parity (discrete left–right symmetry leading to gL = gR) at highest scale is to allow two gauge couplings and thereby ensuring precision unification for gauge couplings. We focus on neutrino mass and neutrinoless double beta decay for one particular case where TeV scale asymmetric left–right theory is spontaneously broken down to SM with non-zero VEV of both Higgs doublets with B − L = −1 and Higgs triplets with B − L = 2. We include one extra fermion singlet per generation in order to implement gauged extended seesaw where light neutrino mass is governed by dominant type-II seesaw mechanism whereas type-I seesaw contribution is cancelled out. Since light neutrino mass formula is independent of Dirac neutrino mass matrix, the value of Dirac neutrino mass is taken to be up-type quark mass matrix which is a characteristics of Pati–Salam symmetry relating quarks with leptons. This can lead to non-unitarity effects in leptonic sector and induce lepton flavor violation. We present analytic relation for effective Majorana mass parameter and corresponding half-life arising from new physics contributions due to purely left-handed currents through exchange of heavy right-handed neutrinos and sterile neutrinos. We numerically estimate effective Majorana mass parameter and half-life versus lightest neutrino mass and derive lower bound on lightest neutrino mass by saturating with experimental bounds like GERDA Phase-II, KamLANDZen and EXO.

Condensation with two constraints and disorder

We consider a set of positive random variables obeying two additive constraints, a linear and a quadratic one; these constraints mimic the conservation laws of a dynamical system. In the simplest setting, without disorder, it is known that such a system may undergo a ‘condensation’ transition, whereby one random variable becomes much larger than the others; this transition has been related to the spontaneous appearance of non linear localized excitations in certain nonlinear chains, called breathers. Motivated by the study of breathers in a disordered discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation, we study different instances of this problem in presence of a quenched disorder. Unless the disorder is too strong, the phase diagram looks like the one without disorder, with a transition separating a fluid phase, where all variables have the same order of magnitude, and a condensed phase, where one variable is much larger than the others. We then show that the condensed phase exhibits various degrees of ‘intermediate symmetry breaking’: the site hosting the condensate is chosen neither uniformly at random, nor is it fixed by the disorder realization. Throughout the article, our heuristic arguments are complemented with direct Monte Carlo simulations.

Primordial monopoles, proton decay, gravity waves and GUT inflation

We consider non-supersymmetric GUT inflation models in which intermediate mass monopoles may survive inflation because of the restricted number of e-foldings experienced by the accompanying symmetry breaking. Thus, an observable flux of primordial magnetic monopoles, comparable to or a few orders below the Parker limit may be present in the galaxy. The mass scale associated with the intermediate symmetry breaking is 1013 GeV for an observable flux level, with the corresponding monopoles an order of magnitude or so heavier. Examples based on SO(10) and E6 yield such intermediate mass monopoles carrying respectively two and three units of Dirac magnetic charge. For GUT inflation driven by a gauge singlet scalar field with a Coleman–Weinberg or Higgs potential, compatibility with the Planck measurement of the scalar spectral index yields a Hubble constant (during horizon exit of cosmological scales) H∼7–9×1013 GeV, with the tensor to scalar ratio r predicted to be ≳0.02. Proton lifetime estimates for decays mediated by the superheavy gauge bosons are also provided.

Unified dark matter with intermediate symmetry breaking scales

Asymmetric symmetry breaking models dynamically break the G X G gauge symmetries of mirror models to distinct subgroups in the two sectors. The coincidental abundances of visible and dark matter, $\Omega_{DM} \simeq 5\Omega_{VM}$, motivates asymmetric dark matter theories where similar number densities of baryons in each sector are explained by their connected origins. However the question of why the baryons of two sectors should have similar mass remains. In this work we develop an alternative class of asymmetric symmetry breaking models which unify the dark and visible sectors while generating a small difference in the mass scale of the baryons of each sector. By examining the different paths that the SO(10) GUT group can take in breaking to gauge symmetries containing SU(3) we can adapt the mechanism of asymmetric symmetry breaking to demonstrate models in which originally unified visible and dark sectors have isomorphic color gauge groups at low energy yet pass through different intermediate gauge groups at high energy. Through this, slight differences in the running coupling evolutions and thus the confinement scales of the two sectors are generated.

Quantum phase transitions between a class of symmetry protected topological states

The subject of this paper is the phase transition between symmetry protected topological states (SPTs). We consider spatial dimension d and symmetry group G so that the cohomology group, Hd+1(G,U(1)), contains at least one Z2n or Z factor. We show that the phase transition between the trivial SPT and the root states that generate the Z2n or Z groups can be induced on the boundary of a (d+1)-dimensional G×Z2T-symmetric SPT by a Z2T symmetry breaking field. Moreover we show these boundary phase transitions can be “transplanted” to d dimensions and realized in lattice models as a function of a tuning parameter. The price one pays is for the critical value of the tuning parameter there is an extra non-local (duality-like) symmetry. In the case where the phase transition is continuous, our theory predicts the presence of unusual (sometimes fractionalized) excitations corresponding to delocalized boundary excitations of the non-trivial SPT on one side of the transition. This theory also predicts other phase transition scenarios including first order transition and transition via an intermediate symmetry breaking phase.

Post-sphaleron baryogenesis and $$n$$ n – $$\overline{n}$$ n ¯ oscillation in non-SUSY SO(10) GUT with gauge coupling unification and proton decay

Post-sphaleron baryogenesis, a fresh and profound mechanism of baryogenesis accounts for the matter-antimatter asymmetry of our present universe in a framework of Pati-Salam symmetry. We attempt here to embed this mechanism in a non-SUSY SO(10) grand unified theory by reviving a novel symmetry breaking chain with Pati-Salam symmetry as an intermediate symmetry breaking step and as well to address post-sphaleron baryogenesis and neutron-antineutron oscillation in a rational manner. The Pati-Salam symmetry based on the gauge group $SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_{R} \times SU(4)_C$ is realized in our model at $10^{5}-10^{6}$ GeV and the mixing time for the neutron-antineutron oscillation process having $\Delta B=2$ is found to be $\tau_{n-\bar{n}} \simeq 10^{8}-10^{10}\,\mbox{secs}$ with the model parameters which is within the reach of forthcoming experiments. Other novel features of the model includes low scale right-handed $W^{\pm}_R$, $Z_R$ gauge bosons, explanation for neutrino oscillation data via gauged inverse (or extended) seesaw mechanism and most importantly TeV scale color sextet scalar particles responsible for observable $n-\bar{n}$ oscillation which can be accessible to LHC. We also look after gauge coupling unification and estimation of proton life-time with and without the addition of color sextet scalars.

The quest for an intermediate-scale accidental axion and further ALPs

The recent detection of the cosmic microwave background polarimeter experiment BICEP2 of tensor fluctuations in the B-mode power spectrum basically excludes all plausible axion models where its decay constant is above 1013 GeV. Moreover, there are strong theoretical, astrophysical, and cosmological motivations for models involving, in addition to the axion, also axion-like particles (ALPs), with decay constants in the intermediate scale range, between 109 GeV and 1013 GeV. Here, we present a general analysis of models with an axion and further ALPs and derive bounds on the relative size of the axion and ALP photon (and electron) coupling. We discuss what we can learn from measurements of the axion and ALP photon couplings about the fundamental parameters of the underlying ultraviolet completion of the theory. For the latter we consider extensions of the Standard Model in which the axion and the ALP(s) appear as pseudo Nambu-Goldstone bosons from the breaking of global chiral U(1) (Peccei-Quinn (PQ)) symmetries, occurring accidentally as low energy remnants from exact discrete symmetries. In such models, the axion and the further ALP are protected from disastrous explicit symmetry breaking effects due to Planck-scale suppressed operators. The scenarios considered exploit heavy right handed neutrinos getting their mass via PQ symmetry breaking and thus explain the small mass of the active neutrinos via a seesaw relation between the electroweak and an intermediate PQ symmetry breaking scale. For a number of explicit models, we determine the parameters of the low-energy effective field theory describing the axion, the ALPs, and their interactions with photons and electrons, in terms of the input parameters, in particular the PQ symmetry breaking scales. We show that these models can accommodate simultaneously an axion dark matter candidate, an ALP explaining the anomalous transparency of the universe for γ-rays, and an ALP explaining the recently reported 3.55 keV gamma line from galaxies and clusters of galaxies, if the respective decay constants are of intermediate scale. Moreover, they do not suffer severely from the domain wall problem.

Tunneling decay of false vortices

We consider the decay of vortices trapped in the false vacuum of a theory of scalar electrodynamics in 2+1 dimensions. The potential is inspired by models with intermediate symmetry breaking to a metastable vacuum that completely breaks a U(1) symmetry, while in the true vacuum the symmetry is unbroken. The false vacuum is unstable through the formation of true vacuum bubbles; however, the rate of decay can be extremely long. On the other hand, the false vacuum can contain metastable vortex solutions. These vortices contain the true vacuum inside in addition to a unit of magnetic flux and the appropriate topologically nontrivial false vacuum outside. We numerically establish the existence of vortex solutions which are classically stable; however, they can decay via tunneling. In general terms, they tunnel to a configuration which is a large, thin-walled vortex configuration that is now classically unstable to the expansion of its radius. We compute an estimate for the tunneling amplitude in the semi-classical approximation. We believe our analysis would be relevant to superconducting thin films or superfluids.

Fate of the false monopoles: Induced vacuum decay

We study a gauge theory model where there is an intermediate symmetry breaking to a meta- stable vacuum that breaks a simple gauge group to a U (1) factor. Such models admit the existence of meta-stable magnetic monopoles, which we dub false monopoles. We prove the existence of these monopoles in the thin wall approximation. We determine the instantons for the collective coordinate that corresponds to the radius of the monopole wall and we calculate the semi-classical tunneling rate for the decay of these monopoles. The monopole decay consequently triggers the decay of the false vacuum. As the monopole mass is increased, we find an enhanced rate of decay of the false vacuum relative to the celebrated homogeneous tunneling rate due to Coleman [1].

Neutralino dark matter in an SO(10) model with two-step intermediate scale symmetry breaking

We consider a supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory (GUT) based on the gauge group SO(10) suggested by Aulakh et al., which features two--step intermediate symmetry breaking, $SO(10) \to SU(4)_C \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R \to SU(3)_C \times U(1)_{B-L} \times SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R \to SU(3)_C \times SU(2)_L \times U(1)_Y$. {\bf $45, 54, 126+\overline{126}$} dimensional representations of Higgs superfields are employed to achieve this symmetry breaking chain. We also introduce a second, very heavy, pair of Higgs doublets, which modifies the Yukawa couplings of matter fields relative to minimal SO(10) predictions. We analyze the differences in the low energy phenomenology compared to that of mSUGRA, assuming universal soft breaking scalar masses, gaugino masses and trilinear couplings at the GUT scale. We find that thermal neutralino Dark Matter remains viable in this scenario, although for small and moderate values of $\tan\beta$ the allowed region is even more highly constrained than in mSUGRA, and depends strongly on the the light neutrino masses.

Erratum: Unification via intermediate symmetry breaking scales with the quartification gauge group [Phys. Rev. D72, 075007 (2005)

The idea of quark-lepton universality at high energies has been introduced as a natural extension to the standard model. This is achieved by endowing leptons with new degrees of freedom -- leptonic colour, an analogue of the familiar quark colour. Grand and partially unified models which utilise this new gauge symmetry SU(3)_\ell have been proposed in the context of the quartification gauge group SU(3)^4. Phenomenologically successful gauge coupling constant unification without supersymmetry has been demonstrated for cases where the symmetry breaking leaves a residual SU(2)_\ell unbroken. Though attractive, these schemes either incorporate ad hoc discrete symmetries and non-renormalisable mass terms, or achieve only partial unification. We show that grand unified models can be constructed where the quartification group can be broken fully [i.e. no residual SU(2)_\ell] to the standard model gauge group without requiring additional discrete symmetries or higher dimension operators. These models also automatically have suppressed nonzero neutrino masses. We perform a systematic analysis of the renormalisation-group equations for all possible symmetry breaking routes from SU(3)^4 --> SU(3)_q x SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y. This analysis indicates that gauge coupling unification can be achieved for several different symmetry breaking patterns and we outline the requirements that each gives on the unification scale. We also show that the unification scenarios of those models which leave a residual SU(2)_\ell symmetry are not unique. In both symmetry breaking cases, some of the scenarios require new physics at the TeV scale, while others do not allow for new TeV phenomenology in the fermionic sector.

Unification via intermediate symmetry breaking scales with the quartification gauge group

The idea of quark-lepton universality at high energies has been introduced as a natural extension to the standard model. This is achieved by endowing leptons with new degrees of freedom---leptonic color, an analogue of the familiar quark color. Grand and partially unified models which utilize this new gauge symmetry $SU(3{)}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}$ have been proposed in the context of the quartification gauge group $SU(3{)}^{4}$. Phenomenologically successful gauge coupling constant unification without supersymmetry has been demonstrated for cases where the symmetry breaking leaves a residual $SU(2{)}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}$ unbroken. Though attractive, these schemes either incorporate ad hoc discrete symmetries and nonrenormalizable mass terms, or achieve only partial unification. We show that grand unified models can be constructed where the quartification group can be broken fully [i.e. no residual $SU(2{)}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}$] to the standard model gauge group without requiring additional discrete symmetries or higher dimension operators. These models also automatically have suppressed nonzero neutrino masses. We perform a systematic analysis of the renormalization-group equations for all possible symmetry breaking routes from $SU(3{)}^{4}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}SU(3{)}_{q}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}SU(2{)}_{L}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}U(1{)}_{Y}$. This analysis indicates that gauge coupling unification can be achieved for several different symmetry breaking patterns and we outline the requirements that each gives on the unification scale. We also show that the unification scenarios of those models which leave a residual $SU(2{)}_{\ensuremath{\ell}}$ symmetry are not unique. In both symmetry breaking cases, some of the scenarios require new physics at the TeV scale, while others do not allow for new TeV phenomenology in the fermionic sector.

Physics implications of flat directions in free fermionic superstring models. I. Mass spectrum and couplings

From the "top-down" approach we investigate physics implications of the class of D- and F- flat directions formed from non-Abelian singlets which are proven flat to all orders in the nonrenormalizable superpotential, for a prototype quasi-realistic free fermionic string model with the standard model gauge group and three families (CHL5). These flat directions have at least an additional U(1)' unbroken at the string scale. For each flat direction, the complete set of effective mass terms and effective trilinear superpotential terms in the observable sector are computed to all orders in the VEV's of the fields in the flat direction. The "string selection-rules" disallow a large number of couplings allowed by gauge invariance, resulting in a massless spectrum with a large number of exotics, in most cases excluded by experiment, thus signifying a generic flaw of these models. Nevertheless, the resulting trilinear couplings of the massless spectrum possess a number of interesting features which we analyse for two representative flat directions: for the fermion texture; baryon- and lepton-number violating couplings; R-parity breaking; non-canonical mu terms; and the possibility of electroweak and intermediate scale symmetry breaking scenarios for U(1)'. The gauge coupling predictions are obtained in the electroweak scale case. Fermion masses possess t-b and tau-mu universality, with the string scale Yukawa couplings g and $g/\sqrt{2}$, respectively. Fermion textures are present for certain flat directions, but only in the down-quark sector. Baryon- and lepton- number violating couplings can trigger proton-decay, $N-{\bar N}$ oscillations, leptoquark interactions and R-parity violation, leading to the absence of a stable LSP.