SO(10) grand unification in light of recent LHC searches and colored scalars at the TeV-scale

Abstract

We analyze the compatibility of the recent LHC signals and the TeV-scale left-right model(s) in the minimal nonsupersymmetric $SO(10)$ framework. We show that the models in which the Higgs content is selected based on the extended survival hypothesis do not allow the $W_R$ boson to be at the TeV-scale. By relaxing this conjecture, we investigate various scenarios where a number of colored-scalars, originated from various Pati-Salam multiplets, are light and whence they survive down to the low energies. Performing a detailed renormalization group analysis with various low-energy Higgs configurations and symmetry breaking chains, while keeping the high energy Higgs content unmodified; we find that, among a number of possibilities, the models which have a light color-triplet scalar, and its combination with a light color-sextet, particularly stand out. Although these models do allow a TeV-scale $W_R$ boson, generating the required value of the gauge coupling $g_R$ at this scale is non-trivial.