Classification of symmetric toroidal orbifolds

Abstract

We provide a complete classification of six-dimensional symmetric toroidal orbifolds which yield N ≥ 1 supersymmetry in 4D for the heterotic string. Our strategy is based on a classification of crystallographic space groups in six dimensions. We find in total 520 inequivalent toroidal orbifolds, 162 of them with Abelian point groups such as Z3,Z4,Z6-I etc. and 358 with non-Abelian point groups such as S 3, D 4, A 4 etc. We also briefly explore the properties of some orbifolds with Abelian point groups and N=1, i.e. specify the Hodge numbers and comment on the possible mechanisms (local or non-local) of gauge symmetry breaking. © 2013 SISSA.