No Arabic abstract
We systematically search intersecting D-brane models, which just realize the Standard Model chiral matter contents and gauge symmetry. We construct new classes of non-supersymmetric Standard Model-like models. We also study gauge coupling constants of these models. The tree level gauge coupling is a function of compactification moduli, string scale, string coupling and winding number of D-branes. By tuning them, we examine whether the models can explain the experimental values of gauge couplings. As a result, we find that the string scale should be greater than $10^{14-15}$GeV if the compactification scale and the string scale are the same order.
The minimal embedding of the Standard Model in type I string theory is described. The SU(3) color and SU(2) weak interactions arise from two different collections of branes. The correct prediction of the weak angle is obtained for a string scale of 6-8 TeV. Two Higgs doublets are necessary and proton stability is guaranteed. It predicts two massive vector bosons with masses at the TeV scale, as well as a new superweak interaction.
We compute Yukawa couplings in type IIB string theory compactified on a non factorisable six-torus in the presence of D9 branes and fluxes. The setting studied in detail, is obtained by T-dualising an intersecting brane configuration of type IIA theory compactified on a torus generated by the SO(12) root lattice. Particular deformations of such torus are taken into account and provide moduli dependent couplings. Agreement with the type IIA result is found in a non trivial way. The classical type IIB calculation gives also information on a factor accessible only by quantum computations on the type IIA side.
We argue that there is a spontaneously broken rotational symmetry between space-time coordinates and gauge theoretical phases. The dilatonic mode acts as the massive Higgs boson, whose vacuum expectation value determines the gauge couplings. This mechanism requires that the quadratic divergences, or tadpoles of the three gauge-theory couplings, unify at a certain scale. We verify this statement, and find that this occurs at Lambda_u ~ 4x10^7 GeV. The tadpole cancellation condition, together with the dilaton self-energy, fixes the value of the unified tadpole coefficient to be 1/[4 ln(Lambda_cut/Lambda_u)]. The observed values of the coupling constants at Lambda_u then implies Lambda_cut ~ 4x10^18 GeV, which is close to the value of the reduced Planck mass MR_Pl=M_Pl/sqrt(8 pi)=2.4 x 10^18 GeV. In other words, by assuming a cutoff at M_Pl or MR_Pl, we are able to obtain predictions for the gauge couplings which agree with the true values to within a few percent. It turns out that this symmetry breaking can only take place if mass is generated with the aid of some other means such as electroweak symmetry breaking. Assuming dynamical symmetry breaking originating at MR_Pl, we obtain M_chi ~ 10^9 GeV, which is not unreasonable but somewhat higher than Lambda_u. The cancellation of an anomaly in the dilaton self-energy requires that the number of fermionic generations equals three.
We discuss gauge coupling unification in models with additional 1 to 4 complete vector-like families, and derive simple rules for masses of vector-like fermions required for exact gauge coupling unification. These mass rules and the classification scheme are generalized to an arbitrary extension of the standard model. We focus on scenarios with 3 or more vector-like families in which the values of gauge couplings at the electroweak scale are highly insensitive to the grand unification scale, the unified gauge coupling, and the masses of vector-like fermions. Their observed values can be mostly understood from infrared fixed point behavior. With respect to sensitivity to fundamental parameters, the model with 3 extra vector-like families stands out. It requires vector-like fermions with masses of order 1 TeV - 100 TeV, and thus at least part of the spectrum may be within the reach of the LHC. The constraints on proton lifetime can be easily satisfied in these models since the best motivated grand unification scale is at $sim 10^{16}$ GeV. The Higgs quartic coupling remains positive all the way to the grand unification scale, and thus the electroweak minimum of the Higgs potential is stable.
We point out that in some situations it is possible to use matrix model techniques a la Dijkgraaf-Vafa to perturbatively compute D-brane instanton effects. This provides an explanation in terms of stringy instantons of the results in hep-th/0311181. We check this proposal in some simple scenarios. We point out some interesting consequences of this observation, such as the fact that it gives a perturbative way of computing stringy multi-instanton effects. It also provides a further interpretation of D-brane instantons as residual instantons of higgsed supergroups.