New Bounds on the String Scale from Flavor Physics

Abstract

We review the very stringent lower bounds on the string scale that arise from flavor considerations in models with intersecting branes. Despite the absence of a realistic flavor structure at tree level, flavor changing interactions induce a non-trivial pattern of fermion masses and mixing angles when quantum corrections are taken into account. The resulting realistic theory of flavor allows us to constrain, in an unambiguous way, the string scale up to levels difficult to reconcile non-supersymmetric models.

Comments: Invited review, published version