E6 Models from F-theory

TL;DR

This paper constructs F-theory models with E6 gauge symmetry that naturally produce particle content similar to E6SSM or NMSSM+ at TeV scale, featuring novel gauge coupling and unification properties, and distinctive LHC signatures.

Contribution

It introduces F-theory models with E6 symmetry that realize low-energy theories akin to E6SSM or NMSSM+ with unique gauge coupling and unification features, and novel suppression mechanisms.

Findings

Unification occurs at the F-theory level due to flux effects.

Proton decay is suppressed by geometric coupling suppression.

D bar couples to leptoquarks, leading to distinctive LHC signatures.

Abstract

F-theory is a non-perturbative formulation of type IIB superstring theory which allows for the decoupling of gravity and for the formulation of GUT theories based on the gauge group E6. In this paper we explore F-theory models in which the low energy supersymmetric theory contains the particle content of three 27 dimensional representations of the underlying E6 gauge group, plus two extra right-handed neutrinos predicted from F and D flatness. The resulting TeV scale effective theory resembles either the E6SSM or the NMSSM+, depending on whether an additional Abelian gauge group does or does not survive. However there are novel features compared to both these models as follows: (i) If the additional Abelian gauge group is unbroken then it can have a weaker gauge coupling than in the E6SSM; (ii) If the additional Abelian gauge group is broken then non-perturbative effects can violate the scale invariance of the NMSSM+ leading to a generalised model; (iii) Unification is achieved not at the field theory level but at the F-theory level since the gauge couplings are split by flux effects, negating the need for any additional doublet states which are usually required; (iv) Proton decay is suppressed by the geometric coupling suppression of a singlet state, a mechanism peculiar to F-theory, which effectively suppresses the coupling of the exotic charge -1/3 colour triplet state D to quarks and leptons; (v) The D bar couples to left-handed leptoquarks, providing characteristic and striking signatures at the LHC.