Towards natural and realistic $E_7$ GUTs in F-theory

TL;DR

This paper explores natural, realistic $E_7$ GUT models in F-theory, highlighting their phenomenological viability, suppression of proton decay, and the role of group structure and geometry in these features.

Contribution

It introduces a class of $E_7$ F-theory vacua with three generations and suppressed proton decay, emphasizing the group-theoretical and geometric origins of these properties.

Findings

Realization of three generations in $E_7$ F-theory vacua

Ubiquitous suppression of proton decay terms

Approximate global symmetries from $E_7$ lead to coupling suppression

Abstract

We consider phenomenological aspects of a natural class of Standard Model-like supersymmetric F-theory vacua realized through flux breaking of rigid $E_7$ gauge factors. Three generations of Standard Model matter are realized in many of these vacua. We further find that many other Standard Model-like features are naturally compatible with these constructions. For example, dimension-4 and 5 terms associated with proton decay are ubiquitously suppressed. Many of these features are due to the group theoretical structure of $E_7$ and associated F-theory geometry. In particular, a set of approximate global symmetries descends from the $E_7$ group, leading to exponential suppression of undesired couplings.