F-theory uplifts and GUTs

TL;DR

This paper explores the uplift of specific Type IIB orientifold models with del Pezzo divisors to F-theory, analyzing their geometric structures and potential for GUT model building based on E8 subgroups.

Contribution

It provides explicit constructions of F-theory uplifts for models with del Pezzo surfaces and examines their singularities and gauge enhancements relevant for GUT theories.

Findings

Two explicit F-theory uplift examples with del Pezzo divisors.

Analysis of singularities and gauge enhancements in the uplifted models.

Potential for constructing F-theory GUT models from these geometries.

Abstract

We study the F-theory uplift of Type IIB orientifold models on compact Calabi-Yau threefolds containing divisors which are del Pezzo surfaces. We consider two examples defined via del Pezzo transitions of the quintic. The first model has an orientifold projection leading to two disjoint O7-planes and the second involution acts via an exchange of two del Pezzo surfaces. The two uplifted fourfolds are generically singular with minimal gauge enhancements over a divisor and, respectively, a curve in the non-Fano base. We study possible further degenerations of the elliptic fiber leading to F-theory GUT models based on subgroups of E8.