Implications of Anomalous U(1) Symmetry in Unified Models: the Flipped SU(5) x U(1) Paradigm

A generic feature of string-derived models is the appearance of an anomalousAbelian U(1)_A symmetry which, among other properties, constrains the Yukawacouplings and distinguishes the three families from each other. In this paper,we discuss in a model-independent way the general constraints imposed by such aU(1)_A symmetry on fermion masses, R-violating couplings and proton-decayoperators in a generic flipped SU(5) x U(1)' model. We construct all possibleviable fermion mass textures and give various examples of effective low-energymodels which are distinguished from each other by their different predictionsfor B-, L- and R-violating effects. We pay particular attention to predictionsfor neutrino masses, in the light of the recent Super-Kamiokande data.