"Non-Abelian Discrete R Symmetries and the Flavor Puzzle"

 

 

ABSTRACT:  

 

This talk will be about non-Abelian discrete R symmetries and their application to the flavor puzzle.  For this, I will review motivations for supersymmetric (SUSY) grand unified theories (GUTs) and the superspace formalism for N=1 theories.

 

Then I will highlight the usefulness and importance of R symmetries for various aspects of SUSY theories.  I will go into detail to show how Abelian discrete R symmetries are instrumental in solving the mu and proton decay problem of MSSM like GUT theories. After a short interlude to motivate the use of non-Abelian discrete symmetries to adress the flavor puzzle, I want to highlight the possibility that also non-Abelian discrete R symmetries can be employed for this -

while at the same time keeping the elegant solutions to the mu and proton decay problem.

I will present a toy model model based on the smallest possible group to discuss generic features of such models, such as the possiblity to achieve vacuum alignment without enlarging the symmetry group. I will conclude this talk by noting that due to the fact that particles and superpartners transform in different representations under the R symmetry, there could be interesting interrelations between SUSY and flavor symmetry breaking.