We show that non-Abelian discrete symmetries in orbifold string models have a gauge origin. This can be understood when looking at the vicinity of a symmetry enhanced point in moduli space. At such an enhanced point, orbifold fixed points are characterized by an enhanced gauge symmetry. This gauge symmetry can be broken to a discrete subgroup by a nontrivial vacuum expectation value of the Kahler modulus T. Using this mechanism it is shown that the Delta (54) non-Abelian discrete symmetry group originates from a SU(3) gauge symmetry, whereas the D-4 symmetry group is obtained from a SU(2) gauge symmetry

We construct two more supersymmetric E6 grand unified models with three generations within the framework of Z12 asymmetric orbifold compactification of the heterotic string theory. Such an asymmetric orbifold is missing in the classification in the literature, which concludes that only one E6 model is possible. In both of the new models, an adjoint Higgs field is obtained in virtue of the diagonal embedding method. This method mods out the three E6 factors of an even selfdual momentum-lattice by a permutation symmetry. In order to realize the (E6) 3 even self-dual lattice, we utilize the lattice engineering technique. Among the eight possible orbifold actions in our setup, two lead to new E6 models. Though these models still share the unsatisfactory issues with the known one, our discovery raises hopes that excellent models that solve all the problems in the supersymmetric grand unified models will be found in this framework.

We study heterotic asymmetric orbifold models. By utilizing the lattice engineering technique, we classify (22,6)-dimensional Narain lattices with right-moving non-Abelian group factors which can be starting points for Z 3 asymmetric orbifold construction. We also calculate gauge symmetry breaking patterns.

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