Local SU(5) Unification in 6D from the Heterotic String

Abstract

We present a six-dimensional T^2/Z_2 orbifold model which arises as an intermediate step in the compactification of the heterotic string to the MSSM. The orbifold contains two pairs of inequivalent fixed points, with unbroken local gauge groups SU(5) and SU(2)xSU(4), respectively, the intersection of which gives the standard model gauge group. All bulk and brane anomalies are cancelled by the Green--Schwarz mechanism. At each SU(5) fixed point, there is a localised \bar{5}+10 standard model generation, while the third generation and the Higgs fields come in split bulk multiplets due to the breaking of SU(5) at the other fixed point.