The exact MSSM spectrum from string theory

2005/12/15 by Volker Braun, Yang-Hui He, Burt A. Ovrut +2 · 1 voice · 191 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Green–Schwarz mechanism #Heterotic string theory #Instanton #International Science and Diplomacy #Moduli #Observable #Orbifold #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #String (physics) #String duality #String theory #Superstring theory #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/1126-6708/2006/05/043

published in Journal of High Energy Physics 2006(05), 043 (Springer Nature) · 15 pages, LaTeX; v2: Hidden sector is unstable, symbol typesetting error corrected, clarifications and references added; v3: New discussion of hidden sector

arxiv created 2006/02/07 · openalex publication_date 2006/05/16 · arxiv updated 2011/05/05 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

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 E₈ x E₈ heterotic superstring on a smooth Calabi-Yau threefold with an SU(4) gauge instanton and a Z₃ x Z₃ 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.

Cited by

• Low Energy Supersymmetry from the Heterotic String Landscape
• Worldsheet instantons, torsion curves and non-perturbative superpotentials
• Worldsheet instantons and torsion curves. Part A: direct computation
• Heterotic mini-landscape (II): Completing the search for MSSM vacua in a Z6 orbifold
• Precision gauge unification from extra Yukawa couplings
• Minimal standard heterotic string models
• Higgs multiplets in heterotic GUT models
• Numerical Hermitian Yang-Mills connections and Kähler cone substructure
• Constraining the Kähler Moduli in the Heterotic Standard Model
• Spin(7) compactifications and 1/4-BPS vacua in heterotic supergravity
• Towards the Standard Model in F-theory
• R parity from string compactification
• Toric resolutions of heterotic orbifolds
• Calabi-Yau metrics for quotients and complete intersections
• Grand unification models from SO(32) heterotic string
• Yukawa textures from heterotic stability walls
• GUTs and exceptional branes in F-theory — II. Experimental predictions

Discussions

• String theory is a framework like QFT - asking whether "string theory" predicts specific particles is like asking whether QFT predicts specific particles. QFT does not - it is the Standard Model as a [stackexchange, 20 points]

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