GAUGE SYMMETRY BREAKING IN SUPERCONFORMAL ORBIFOLDS

We study the construction of (2, 0) theories from orbifolds of N=2 minimal superconformal string compactifications with non-trivial Wilson loops. In particular, we exploit the connection between geometrical and exactly soluble string vacua to arrive at a mean of analyzing Calabi-Yau orbifolds containing ‘Wilson loops’ associated with non-free group actions, breaking the E gauge symmetry of the model as well the ‘shadow’ E gauge symmetry group. We apply our results to recently proposed three generation constructions of this sort and find spectra which differ from previous claims and which possess exceptionally desirable phenomenological properties.

Duke Scholars

Author M. Ronen Plesser Physics