Flavor Hierarchy from Extra Dimension and Gauge Threshold Correction

Abstract

Dynamical quasi-localization of matter fields in extra dimension is an elegant mechanism to generate hierarchical 4-dimensional Yukawa couplings. We point out that a bulk matter field whose zero mode is quasi-localized can give a large Kaluza-Klein threshold correction to low energy gauge couplings, which is generically of the order of ln (Yukawa)/8pi^2, so it can significantly affect gauge coupling unification. We compute such threshold corrections in generic 5-dimensional theories compactified on S^1/Z_2 X Z_2, and apply the result to grand unified theories on orbifold generating small Yukawa couplings through quasi-localization.

Comments: 17 pages, 2 eps figures, revtex4. References updated