Model building with $F$-theory

Abstract

Despite much recent progress in model building with $D$-branes, it has been problematic to find a completely convincing explanation of gauge coupling unification. We extend the class of models by considering $F$-theory compactifications, which may incorporate unification more naturally. We explain how to derive the charged chiral spectrum and Yukawa couplings in $N = 1$ compactifications of $F$-theory with $G$-flux. In a class of models which admit perturbative heterotic duals, we show that the $F$-theory and heterotic computations match.