Seeking experimental probes of string unification

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential for experimental detection of exotic fractional charge states predicted by string unification theories, which could serve as probes of string theory through cosmic ray and dark matter experiments.

Contribution

It highlights the possibility of observing long-lived exotic states with fractional charges as experimental signatures of string unification.

Findings

Exotic states with fractional charges may be detectable in cosmic ray and dark matter experiments.

Such states could be long-lived due to weakly broken gauge or discrete symmetries.

These states serve as potential experimental probes of string theory.

Abstract

A general prediction of string unification is the existence of exotic states with fractional charges under the free unbroken Abelian generators of the underlying GUT symmetry. Such states may be long-lived due to the existence of weakly broken gauge, or local discrete, symmetries, and may serve as experimental probes of string theory in forthcoming cosmic ray and dark matter experiments.