SIGNALS OF UNCONVENTIONAL E(6) MODELS AT E(+)E(-) COLLIDERS

Generation-dependent discrete symmetries often appear in models derived from superstring theories. In particular, in the framework of E6 models the presence of such symmetries is required in order to allow for the radiative generation of naturally small neutrino masses. Recently it was shown that by imposing suitable generation-dependent discrete symmetries, a class of models can be consistently constructed in which the three sets of known fermions in each generation do not have the same assignments with respect to the 27 representation of E6. In this scenario, the different embedding in the gauge group of the three generations implies in particular that the known charged leptons couple in a nonuniversal way to the new neutral gauge bosons (Z(beta)) present in these models. We exploit this fact to study the signature of this class of models at present and future e+e- colliders. We show that some signals of deviation from lepton universality as well as some other discrepancies with the standard model predictions which have been observed at the KEK TRISTAN collider in the production rate of mu and tau, can be accounted for if the Z(beta) mass is not much heavier than 300 GeV. We also study the discovery limits for lepton universality violation of this type at CERN LEP 2 and at the 500 GeV e+e- Next Linear Collider (NLC). We show that models predicting unconventional assignments for the leptons will give an unmistakable signature, when the Z(beta) mass is as heavy as approximately 800 GeV (LEP 2) and approximately 2 TeV (NLC).