Weak Mixing Angle and Proton Stability in F-theory GUT

TL;DR

This paper explores F-theory GUT models with flipped SU(5) that naturally unify gauge couplings, address proton decay suppression, and maintain the weak mixing angle at the GUT scale through specific flux configurations.

Contribution

It constructs a global F-theory flipped SU(5) model that ensures gauge unification, suppresses proton decay, and preserves the weak mixing angle at the GUT scale.

Findings

Successful gauge coupling unification in the model

Proton decay processes are effectively suppressed

The weak mixing angle remains at 3/8 at the GUT scale

Abstract

It is pointed out that a class of flipped SU(5) models based on F-theory naturally explains the gauge coupling unification. It is because the group SU(5) x U(1)_X is embedded in SO(10) and E_8. To prohibit the dimension 4 and 5 proton decay processes, the structure group should be SU(3) or smaller. Extra heavy vector-like pairs of {5_{-2},5*_2} except only one pair of Higgs should be also disallowed, because they could induce the unwanted dimension 5 proton decays. We construct a simple global F-theory model considering these points. To maintain sin^2 theta_W^0 = 3/8 at the GUT scale, the fluxes are turned-on only on the flavor branes.