STRING GUTS

Standard SUSY-GUTs such as those based on SU(5) or SO(10) lead to pred ictions for the values of alpha(s) and sin(2) theta w in amazing agree ment with experiment. In this article we investigate how these models may be obtained from string theory, thus bringing them into the only k nown consistent frame-work for quantum gravity. String models with mat ter in standard GUT representations require the realization of affine Lie algebras at higher levels. We start by describing some methods to build level k = 2 symmetric orbifold string models with gauge groups S U(5) or SO(10). We present several examples and identify generic featu res of the type of models constructed. Chiral fields appropriate to br eak the symmetry down to the standard model generically appear in the massless spectrum. However, unlike in standard SUSY-GUTs, they often b ehave as string moduli, i.e., they do not have self-couplings. We also discuss briefly the doublet-triplet Higgs splitting. We find that, in some models, built-in sliding-singlet type of couplings exist.