Kahler Stabilized, Modular Invariant Heterotic String Models

TL;DR

This paper reviews heterotic string models with target space modular invariance and Kahler stabilization, discussing their phenomenology, supersymmetry breaking, and cosmological implications, highlighting their advantages over other string models.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of Kahler stabilized, modular invariant heterotic string models, including their effective supergravity theories and phenomenological features.

Findings

Models exhibit favorable supersymmetry breaking patterns.

Compatibility with collider signatures and cosmological observations.

Comparison shows advantages over other string-derived models.

Abstract

We review the theory and phenomenology of effective supergravity theories based on orbifold compactifications of the weakly-coupled heterotic string. In particular, we consider theories in which the four-dimensional theory displays target space modular invariance and where the dilatonic mode undergoes Kahler stabilization. A self-contained exposition of effective Lagrangian approaches to gaugino condensation and heterotic string theory is presented, leading to the development of the models of Binetruy, Gaillard and Wu. Various aspects of the phenomenology of this class of models are considered. These include issues of supersymmetry breaking and superpartner spectra, the role of anomalous U(1) factors, issues of flavor and R-parity conservation, collider signatures, axion physics, and early universe cosmology. For the vast majority of phenomenological considerations the theories reviewed here compare quite favorably to other string-derived models in the literature. Theoretical objections to the framework and directions for further research are identified and discussed.