Standard Grand Unification from Superstrings

Recent developments about the construction of standard $SO(10)$ and $SU(5)$ grand unified theories from 4-dimensional superstrings are presented. Explicit techniques involving higher level affine Lie algebras, for obtaining such stringGUTs from symmetric orbifolds are discussed. Special emphasis is put on the different constraints and selection rules for model building in this string framework, trying to disentangle those which are generic from those depending on the orbifold construction proposed. Some phenomenological implications from such constraints are briefly discussed.Comment: 7 pages, Latex, no figures. Talk at Susy 95. Paris, May 199

The Dilaton Potential from N= 1*

Recent understanding of {\cal N}=1* supersymmetric theory (mass deformed {\cal N}=4) has made it possible to find an exact superpotential which encodes the properties of the different phases of the theory. We consider this superpotential as an illustrative example for the source of a nontrivial scalar potential for the string theory dilaton and study its properties. The superpotential is characterized by the rank of the corresponding gauge group (N) and integers p,q,k labelling the different massive phases of the theory. For generic values of these parameters, we find the expected runaway behaviour of the potential to vanishing string coupling. But there are also supersymmetric minima at weak coupling stabilizing the dilaton field. An interesting property of this potential is that there is a proliferation of supersymmetric vacua in the confining phases, with the number of vacua increasing with N and leading to a kind of staircase potential. For a range of parameters, it is possible to obtain realistic values for the gauge coupling.Comment: Latex, 21 pages, 4 figures, v2: typos and eq.(2.1) corrected, v3: comments on possible embeddings of the model in string theory adde

Factorization and Discrete States in C=1 Superliouville Theory

We study the discrete state structure of $\hat c=1$ superconformal matter coupled to 2-D supergravity. Factorization properties of scattering amplitudes are used to identify these states and to construct the corresponding vertex operators. For both Neveu-Schwarz and Ramond sectors these states are shown to be organized in SU(2) multiplets. The algebra generated by the discrete states is computed in the limit of null cosmological constant.Comment: 23 pages, revtex, CNEA-CAB-92-036 and UPRF-92-35

On Susy Standard-like models from orbifolds of D=6 Gepner orientifolds

As a further elaboration of the proposal of Ref. [1] we address the construction of Standard-like models from configurations of stacks of orientifold planes and D-branes on an internal space with the structure ${(Gepner model)^{c=6} \times T^2}/Z_N$. As a first step, the construction of D=6 Type II B orientifolds on Gepner points, in the diagonal invariant case and for both, odd and even, affine levels is discussed. We build up the explicit expressions for B-type boundary states and crosscaps and obtain the amplitudes among them. From such amplitudes we read the corresponding spectra and the tadpole cancellation equations. Further compactification on a T^2 torus, by simultaneously orbifolding the Gepner and the torus internal sectors, is performed. The embedding of the orbifold action in the brane sector breaks the original gauge groups and leads to N=1 supersymmetric chiral spectra. Whenever even orbifold action on the torus is considered, new branes, with worldvolume transverse to torus coordinates, must be included. The detailed rules for obtaining the D=4 model spectra and tadpole equations are shown. As an illustration we present a 3 generations Left-Right symmetric model that can be further broken to a MSSM model.Comment: 40 pages, 2 figures, added references, table 3 correcte

Nondiagonal CPmCP_m Coset Models and their Poincar\'E Polynomials

$N=2$ coset models of the type $SU(m+1)/SU(m)\times U(1)$ with nondiagonal modular invariants for both $SU(m+1)$ and $SU(m)$ are considered. Poincar\'e polynomials of the corresponding chiral rings of these algebras are constructed. They are used to compute the number of chiral generations of the associated string compactifications. Moddings by discrete symmetries are also discussed.Comment: 22 pages, (RevTex), preprint GTCRG-92-1 and CNEA-CAB-039/92. % Minor changes in the result

Supersymmetric Composite Models on Intersecting D-branes

We construct supersymmetric composite models of quarks and leptons from type IIA T^6/(Z_2 x Z_2) orientifolds with intersecting D6-branes. In case of T^6 = T^2 x T^2 x T^2 with no tilted T^2, a composite model of the supersymmetric SU(5) grand unified theory with three generations is constructed. In case of that one T^2 is tilted, a composite model with SU(3)_c x SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y gauge symmetry with three generations is constructed. These models are not realistic, but contain fewer additional exotic particles and U(1) gauge symmetries due to the introduction of the compositeness of quarks and leptons. The masses of some exotic particles are naturally generated through the Yukawa interactions among "preons".Comment: 15 pages, 2 figure

D=4, N=1 orientifolds with vector structure

We construct compact type IIB orientifolds with discrete groups Z_4, Z_6, Z_6', Z_8, Z_12 and Z_12'. These models are N=1 supersymmetric in D=4 and have vector structure. The possibility of having vector structure in Z_N orientifolds with even N arises due to an alternative Omega-projection in the twisted sectors. Some of the models without vector structure are known to be inconsistent because of uncancelled tadpoles. We show that vector structure leads to a sign flip in the twisted Klein bottle contribution. As a consequence, all the tadpoles can be cancelled by introducing D9-branes and D5-branes.Comment: Latex, 44 pages, 2 figures, v2: misprints and an error concerning Omega^2_{95} corrected, a comment on D5-branes with negative NSNS charge added, references and acknowledgements adde