arXiv subjects

Volker Braun

Publications and source records attributed to Volker Braun.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

Three Generations on the Quintic Quotient

A three-generation SU(5) GUT, that is 3x(10+5bar) and a single 5-5bar pair, is constructed by compactification of the E_8 heterotic string. The base manifold is the Z_5 x Z_5-quotient of the quintic, and the vector bundle is the quotient of a positive monad. The group action on the monad and its bundle-valued cohomology is discussed in detail, including topological restrictions on the existence of equivariant structures. This model and a single Z_5 quotient are the complete list of three generation quotients of positive monads on the quintic.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

GUTs in Type IIB Orientifold Compactifications

We systematically analyse globally consistent SU(5) GUT models on intersecting D7-branes in genuine Calabi-Yau orientifolds with O3- and O7-planes. Beyond the well-known tadpole and K-theory cancellation conditions there exist a number of additional subtle but quite restrictive constraints. For the realisation of SU(5) GUTs with gauge symmetry breaking via U(1)_Y flux we present two classes of suitable Calabi-Yau manifolds defined via del Pezzo transitions of the elliptically fibred hypersurface P_{1,1,1,6,9}[18] and of the Quintic P_{1,1,1,1,1}[5], respectively. To define an orientifold projection we classify all involutions on del Pezzo surfaces. We work out the model building prospects of these geometries and present five globally consistent string GUT models in detail, including a 3-generation SU(5) model with no exotics whatsoever. We also realise other phenomenological features such as the 10 10 5 Yukawa coupling and comment on the possibility of moduli stabilisation, where we find an entire new set of so-called swiss-cheese type Calabi-Yau manifolds. It is expected that both the general constrained structure and the concrete models lift to F-theory vacua on compact Calabi-Yau fourfolds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Two Higgs Pair Heterotic Vacua and Flavor-Changing Neutral Currents

We present a vacuum of heterotic M-theory whose observable sector has the MSSM spectrum with the addition of one extra pair of Higgs-Higgs conjugate superfields. The quarks/leptons have a realistic mass hierarchy with a naturally light first family. The double elliptic structure of the Calabi-Yau compactification threefold leads to two ``stringy'' selection rules. These classically disallow Yukawa couplings to the second Higgs pair and, hence, Higgs mediated flavor-changing neutral currents. Such currents are induced in higher-dimensional interactions, but are naturally suppressed. We show that our results fit comfortably below the observed upper bounds on neutral flavor-changing processes.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of the Scalar Laplace Operator on Calabi-Yau Manifolds

A numerical algorithm for explicitly computing the spectrum of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on Calabi-Yau threefolds is presented. The requisite Ricci-flat metrics are calculated using a method introduced in previous papers. To illustrate our algorithm, the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Laplacian are computed numerically on two different quintic hypersurfaces, some Z_5 x Z_5 quotients of quintics, and the Calabi-Yau threefold with Z_3 x Z_3 fundamental group of the heterotic standard model. The multiplicities of the eigenvalues are explained in detail in terms of the irreducible representations of the finite isometry groups of the threefolds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Worldsheet Instantons and Torsion Curves

We study aspects of worldsheet instantons relevant to a heterotic standard model. The non-simply connected Calabi-Yau threefold used admits Z_3 x Z_3 Wilson lines, and a more detailed investigation shows that the homology classes of curves are H_2(X,Z)=Z^3+Z_3+Z_3. We compute the genus-0 prepotential, this is the first explicit calculation of the Gromov-Witten invariants of homology classes with torsion (finite subgroups). In particular, some curve classes contain only a single instanton. This ensures that the Beasley-Witten cancellation of instanton contributions cannot happen on this (non-toric) Calabi-Yau threefold.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Calabi-Yau Metrics for Quotients and Complete Intersections

We extend previous computations of Calabi-Yau metrics on projective hypersurfaces to free quotients, complete intersections, and free quotients of complete intersections. In particular, we construct these metrics on generic quintics, four-generation quotients of the quintic, Schoen Calabi-Yau complete intersections and the quotient of a Schoen manifold with Z_3 x Z_3 fundamental group that was previously used to construct a heterotic standard model. Various numerical investigations into the dependence of Donaldson's algorithm on the integration scheme, as well as on the Kahler and complex structure moduli, are also performed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Worldsheet Instantons and Torsion Curves, Part A: Direct Computation

As a first step towards studying vector bundle moduli in realistic heterotic compactifications, we identify all holomorphic rational curves in a Calabi-Yau threefold X with Z_3 x Z_3 Wilson lines. Computing the homology, we find that H_2(X,Z)=Z^3+Z_3+Z_3. The torsion curves complicate our analysis, and we develop techniques to distinguish the torsion part of curve classes and to deal with the non-toric threefold X. In this paper, we use direct A-model computations to find the instanton numbers in each integral homology class, including torsion. One interesting result is that there are homology classes that contain only a single instanton, ensuring that there cannot be any unwanted cancellation in the non-perturbative superpotential.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Worldsheet Instantons and Torsion Curves, Part B: Mirror Symmetry

We apply mirror symmetry to the problem of counting holomorphic rational curves in a Calabi-Yau threefold X with Z_3 x Z_3 Wilson lines. As we found in Part A [hep-th/0703182], the integral homology group H_2(X,Z)=Z^3 + Z_3 + Z_3 contains torsion curves. Using the B-model on the mirror of X as well as its covering spaces, we compute the instanton numbers. We observe that X is self-mirror even at the quantum level. Using the self-mirror property, we derive the complete prepotential on X, going beyond the results of Part A. In particular, this yields the first example where the instanton number depends on the torsion part of its homology class. Another consequence is that the threefold X provides a non-toric example for the conjectured exchange of torsion subgroups in mirror manifolds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Worldsheet Instantons, Torsion Curves, and Non-Perturbative Superpotentials

As a first step towards computing instanton-generated superpotentials in heterotic standard model vacua, we determine the Gromov-Witten invariants for a Calabi-Yau threefold with fundamental group pi_1(X)=Z_3 x Z_3. We find that the curves fall into homology classes in H_2(X,Z)=Z^3+(Z_3+Z_3). The unexpected appearance of the finite torsion subgroup in the homology group complicates our analysis. However, we succeed in computing the complete genus-0 prepotential. Expanding it as a power series, the number of instantons in any integral homology class can be read off. This is the first explicit calculation of the Gromov-Witten invariants of homology classes with torsion. We find that some curve classes contain only a single instanton. This ensures that the contribution to the superpotential from each such instanton cannot cancel.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Towards Realizing Dynamical SUSY Breaking in Heterotic Model Building

We study a new mechanism to dynamically break supersymmetry in the E8xE8 heterotic string. As discussed recently in the literature, a long-lived, meta-stable non-supersymmetric vacuum can be achieved in an N=1 SQCD whose spectrum contains a sufficient number of light fundamental flavors. In this paper, we present, within the context of the hidden sector of the weakly and strongly coupled heterotic string, a slope-stable, holomorphic vector bundle on a Calabi-Yau threefold for which all matter fields are in the fundamental representation and are massive at generic points in moduli space. It is shown, however, that near certain subvarieties in the moduli space a sufficient number of light matter fields can occur, providing an explicit heterotic model realizing dynamical SUSY breaking. This is demonstrated for the low-energy gauge group Spin(10). However, our methods immediately generalize to Spin(Nc), SU(Nc), and Sp(Nc), for a wide range of color index Nc. Moduli stabilization in vacua with a positive cosmological constant is briefly discussed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Dynamical SUSY Breaking in Heterotic M-Theory

It is shown that four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric QCD with massive flavors in the fundamental representation of the gauge group can be realized in the hidden sector of E8xE8 heterotic string vacua. The number of flavors can be chosen to lie in the range of validity of the free-magnetic dual, using which one can demonstrate the existence of long-lived meta-stable non-supersymmetric vacua. This is shown explicitly for the gauge group Spin(10), but the methods are applicable to Spin(Nc), SU(Nc) and Sp(Nc) for a wide range of color index Nc. Hidden sectors of this type can potentially be used as a mechanism to break supersymmetry within the context of heterotic M-theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Stabilizing Moduli with a Positive Cosmological Constant in Heterotic M-Theory

It is shown that strongly coupled heterotic M-theory with anti-five-branes in the S^1/Z_2 bulk space can have meta-stable vacua which break N=1 supersymmetry and have a small, positive cosmological constant. This is demonstrated for the "minimal" heterotic standard model. This vacuum has the exact MSSM matter spectrum in the observable sector, a trivial hidden sector vector bundle and both five-branes and anti-five-branes in the bulk space. The Kahler moduli for which the cosmological constant has phenomenologically acceptable values are shown to also render the observable sector vector bundle slope-stable. A corollary of this result is that strongly coupled M-theory vacua with only five-branes in the S^1/Z_2 interval may have stabilized moduli, but at a supersymmetry preserving minimum with a large, negative cosmological constant.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

The Exact MSSM Spectrum from String Theory

We show the existence of realistic vacua in string theory whose observable sector has exactly the matter content of the MSSM. This is achieved by compactifying the E_8 x E_8 heterotic superstring on a smooth Calabi-Yau threefold with an SU(4) gauge instanton and a Z_3 x Z_3 Wilson line. Specifically, the observable sector is N=1 supersymmetric with gauge group SU(3)_C x SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y x U(1)_{B-L}, three families of quarks and leptons, each family with a right-handed neutrino, and one Higgs-Higgs conjugate pair. Importantly, there are no extra vector-like pairs and no exotic matter in the zero mode spectrum. There are, in addition, 6 geometric moduli and 13 gauge instanton moduli in the observable sector. The holomorphic SU(4) vector bundle of the observable sector is slope-stable.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Stability of the Minimal Heterotic Standard Model Bundle

The observable sector of the "minimal heterotic standard model" has precisely the matter spectrum of the MSSM: three families of quarks and leptons, each with a right-handed neutrino, and one Higgs-Higgs conjugate pair. In this paper, it is explicitly proven that the SU(4) holomorphic vector bundle leading to the MSSM spectrum in the observable sector is slope-stable.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Yukawa Couplings in Heterotic Standard Models

In this paper, we present a formalism for computing the Yukawa couplings in heterotic standard models. This is accomplished by calculating the relevant triple products of cohomology groups, leading to terms proportional to Q*H*u, Q*Hbar*d, L*H*nu and L*Hbar*e in the low energy superpotential. These interactions are subject to two very restrictive selection rules arising from the geometry of the Calabi-Yau manifold. We apply our formalism to the "minimal" heterotic standard model whose observable sector matter spectrum is exactly that of the MSSM. The non-vanishing Yukawa interactions are explicitly computed in this context. These interactions exhibit a texture rendering one out of the three quark/lepton families naturally light.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

D-Brane Charges in Gepner Models

We construct Gepner models in terms of coset conformal field theories and compute their twisted equivariant K-theories. These classify the D-brane charges on the associated geometric backgrounds and therefore agree with the topological K-theories. We show this agreement for various cases, in particular the Fermat quintic.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Heterotic Standard Model Moduli

In previous papers, we introduced a heterotic standard model and discussed its basic properties. The Calabi-Yau threefold has, generically, three Kahler and three complex structure moduli. The observable sector of this vacuum has the spectrum of the MSSM with one additional pair of Higgs-Higgs conjugate fields. The hidden sector has no charged matter in the strongly coupled string and only minimal matter for weak coupling. Additionally, the spectrum of both sectors will contain vector bundle moduli. The exact number of such moduli was conjectured to be small, but was not explicitly computed. In this paper, we rectify this and present a formalism for computing the number of vector bundle moduli. Using this formalism, the number of moduli in both the observable and strongly coupled hidden sectors is explicitly calculated.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Moduli Dependent mu-Terms in a Heterotic Standard Model

In this paper, we present a formalism for computing the non-vanishing Higgs mu-terms in a heterotic standard model. This is accomplished by calculating the cubic product of the cohomology groups associated with the vector bundle moduli (phi), Higgs (H) and Higgs conjugate (Hbar) superfields. This leads to terms proportional to phi H Hbar in the low energy superpotential which, for non-zero moduli expectation values, generate moduli dependent mu-terms of the form H Hbar. It is found that these interactions are subject to two very restrictive selection rules, each arising from a Leray spectral sequence, which greatly reduce the number of moduli that can couple to Higgs-Higgs conjugate fields. We apply our formalism to a specific heterotic standard model vacuum. The non-vanishing cubic interactions phi H Hbar are explicitly computed in this context and shown to contain only four of the nineteen vector bundle moduli.

hep-th↗