A Unified Framework for Symmetry Breaking in SO(10)

A new SO(10) unified model is proposed based on a one step breaking of SO(10) to the Standard Model gauge group $SU(3)\times SU(2)\times U(1)_Y$ using a single 144 of Higgs. The symmetry breaking occurs when the SU(5) 24-plet component of 144 develops a vacuum expectation value. Further, it is possible to obtain from the same 144 a light Higgs doublet necessary for electro-weak symmetry breaking using recent ideas of string vacua landscapes and fine tuning. Thus the breaking of SO(10) down to $SU(3)_C\times U(1)_{em}$ can be accomplished with a single Higgs. We analyze this symmetry breaking pattern in the nonsupersymmetric as well as in the supersymmetric SO(10) model.In this scenario masses of the quarks and leptons arise via quartic couplings. We show that the resulting mass pattern is consistent with experimental data, including neutrino oscillations. The model represents an alternative to the currently popular grand unified scenarios.