Superunification from eleven dimensions

We show how N = 8 supersymmetry can break spontaneously to N = 1 at the Planck scale via a Kaluza-Klein compactification of d = 11 supergravity on the squashed seven-sphere. Features unique to Kaluza-Klein supergravity are (i) the massless gravitino of the N = 1 phase comes from a massiveN = 8 supermultiplet, (ii) the scalars developing nonzero VEVs also belong to massive N = 8 supermultiplets, (iii) parity remains unbroken when N = 8 breaks to N = 1.Next we ask whether the resulting N = 1 theory can provide a realistic SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) unification and speculate that it might if some of the gauge bosons and fermions are composite as in the EGMZ model. In contrast to their model, however, we avoid unwanted helicities and problems with their non-compact E₇. Moreover, we suggest a scheme in which the electroweak SU(2) × U(1) is a subgroup of the d = 11 general coordinate group but that the strong SU(3) is a subgroup of the d = 11 local Lorentz group and are not, therefore, to be combined into a GUT. The special properties of the seven-sphere also suggest a possible solution of the cosmological constant problem involving fermion condensates.     

From 4d superconformal indices to 3d partition functions

An exact formula for partition functions in 3d field theories was recently suggested by Jafferis, and Hama, Hosomichi, and Lee. These functions are expressed in terms of specific q-hypergeometric integrals whose key building block is the double sine function (or the hyperbolic gamma function). Elliptic hypergeometric integrals, discovered by the second author, define 4d superconformal indices. Using their reduction to the hyperbolic level, we describe a general scheme of reducing 4d superconformal indices to 3d partition functions which imply an efficient way of getting 3dN=2 supersymmetric dualities for both SYM and CS theories from the “parent” 4dN=1 dualities for SYM theories. As an example, we consider explicitly the duality pattern for 3dN=2 SYM and CS theories with SP(2N) gauge group with the antisymmetric tensor matter.     

Gauge dependence of the effective action in multidimensional supergravities

The problem of gauge dependence of the effective action in multidimensional supergravities (SG) is investigated. As an example d=5 SGs are considered. The convenient gauge-dependent effective action (EA) and gauge-invariant Vilkovisky-De Witt EA in d=5, N=2, 4, 6, 8 SGs on the background R₄×S₁ with accuracy to linear curvature terms are obtained. The convenient three-gauge-parameter-dependent EA in d=5, N=2 gauged SG on the background R₄×S₁ is calculated. The Vilkovisky-De Witt EA in d=5 SGs on the background R₄×S₁ at non-zero temperature is also obtained.     

Elliptic Hypergeometry of Supersymmetric Dualities II. Orthogonal Groups, Knots, and Vortices

We consider Seiberg electric-magnetic dualities for 4d ${\mathcal{N} = 1}$ SYM theories with SO(N) gauge group. For all such known theories we construct superconformal indices (SCIs) in terms of elliptic hypergeometric integrals. Equalities of these indices for dual theories lead both to proven earlier special function identities and new conjectural relations for integrals. In particular, we describe a number of new elliptic beta integrals associated with the s-confining theories with the spinor matter fields. Reductions of some dualities from SP(2N) to SO(2N) or SO(2N + 1) gauge groups are described. Interrelation of SCIs and the Witten anomaly is briefly discussed. Possible applications of the elliptic hypergeometric integrals to a two-parameter deformation of 2d conformal field theory and related matrix models are indicated. Connections of the reduced SCIs with the state integrals of knot theory, generalized AGT duality for (3 + 3)d theories, and a 2d vortex partition function are described.     

Calculation of the pseudoscalar masses from a QCD effective potential

We calculate the effective two-loop potential of QCD with massive quarks in the CJT composite operator formalism. To perform the wave-function renormalization of composite operators we are lead to a condition which corresponds to the Adler-Dashen requirement in the limit of vanishing quark masses. The condition also assures absence of spontaneous breaking of parity. Pseudoscalar masses are calculated from the second derivatives of the effective potential, and a fit is obtained for quark masses m_u = 3.6 MeV, m_d = 7 MeV, m_s = 152 MeV. We also comment on consistuent quark masses and on the effect of heavy quarks.     

Interpretation of 3p-core-excitation spectra in Cr,Mn, Fe,Co, and Ni

Recent measurements of the 3p-core-excitation spectra of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni are interpreted with an atomic model. The dispersion like line shape observed in these metals is attributed to the interference of 3p⁶3d^N → 3p⁵3d^N+1, which decays to 3p⁶3d^N?1?f via a super Coster-Kronig transition, with the direct excitation of 3p⁶3d^N → 3p⁶3d^N?1?f. The overall width of the line and some weaker features associated with it are related to the multiplet splittings of 3p⁵3d^N+1. The more symmetric line shape found for Cr, which is thought to be due to the absence of a large local moment, is explained in terms of the greater number of multiplets that contribute for a small moment ($\text{S=}\text{1}\text{2}$) as compared to a large moment ($\text{S=}\text{5}\text{2}$).     

Aspects of effective action for super Chern-Simons-Matter models

We develop the superfield background field method and study the effective action in the N = 2, d3 supersymmetric Chern-Simons-matter systems. The one-loop low-energy effective action for non-Abelian supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory is computed to order F ⁴ by use of N = 2 superfield heat kernel techniques.     

The complete N = 2, d = 6 supergravity with matter and yang-mills couplings

We derive all the quartic fermion terms in the action, and all the cubic fermion tterms in the transformation rules of the N = 2, d = 6 supergravity plus matter-coupled Yang-Mills system constructed by the authors in an earlier paper. We also show how compactification to the 4-dimensional Minkowski spacetime is always automatically realized even with fermionic condensates, based on the argument of scale covariance by Witten.     

Supergravity,the seven-sphere,and spontaneous symmetry breaking

N = 1 supergravity in d = 11 dimensions spontaneously compactifies on S⁷ to an N = 8 supergravity in d = 4 with a local SO(8) × SO(8) invariance, probably enlargeable to SO(8) × SU(8). Apart from group manifolds, S⁷ is the only compact manifold to admit an absolute parallelism. This permits (a) a “squashing” of S⁷ which gives expectation values to the scalar fields and (b) a parallelizing “torsion” which gives expectation values to the pseudoscalars. This correspondence between extrema of the d = 4 effective potential and solutions of the d = 11 field equations provides a Kaluza-Klein origin for the spontaneous breakdown of gauge symmetries, discrete symmetries, and supersymmetries. It also puts a new perspective on the puzzle of the cosmological constant.     

Variational approach for the N-state spin and gauge Potts model

A hamiltonian variational treatment is applied both to the spin Potts model and to its gauge version for any number of states N and spatial dimensions d?2. Regarding the former we reproduce the correct critical coupling and latent heat for not too low N and d. For the latter, our approach turns the gauge theory into an equivalent d-dimensional classical spin model, which evaluated for d + 1 = 4 gives results in agreement with 1/N expansions.     

Explicit R-parity breaking in supersymmetric models

Supersymmetric models generally invoke R parity to ensure that baryon and lepton numbers are symmetries of the renormalizable operators of the low-energy effective theory. The phenomenology of lepton-number violation is analyzed in low-energy models in which R parity is explicitly broken by superrenormalizable operators. Constraints on lepton-number violating parameters are found to be mild. The photino is able to decay, avoiding a stringent cosmological lower bound on its mass. Alternatives to R parity are considered in the context of an SU(5) grand unified model coupled to N=1 supergravity. One possibility, θ parity, leads to new mechanisms for baryon- number violation in addition to lepton-number violation.     

A new group theoretical technique for the analysis of Bianchi identities and its application to the auxiliary field problem of D = 5 supergravity

For any (super)group and hence for any geometrical (super)theory Bianchi identities imply that certain 3-forms vanish. In order to perform a systematic analysis of their implications in the presence of constraints one needs a complete basis of independent 3-forms spanning the 3-form linear space. In this paper we discuss a general procedure for the derivation of such a basis in the case of supersymmetric theories involving commuting spinor 1-forms. Our technique is based on the decomposition of the product of group representations into irreducible components and replaces all Fierz rearrangements. We give as examples the cases of N = 1, d = 4, N = 2, d = 4 and N = 2, d = 5 supergravity. Then applying our algebraic techniques to the last of these three models, the only other known example, besides N = 1, d = 4 supergravity, of a pure geometrical theory, we derive its off-shell structure containing 48 bosons and 48 fermions. The torsion-like constraints which we implement in the Bianchis in order to obtain our set of auxiliary fields are a subset of the complete set of variational equations of the theory so that we derive our off-shell multiplet without any reference to an embedding conformal symmetry. The point with which we still need to use ingenuity is the selection of those equations which are to be kept and those which are to be thrown out.     

In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of 103Cd

Excited states of ¹⁰³Cd were studied in the reaction ⁵⁸Ni(⁵⁰Cr,4pn)¹⁰³Cd. The NORDBALL array with neutron and charged particle detectors was employed for the detection of γ rays and light evaporated particles. The level scheme of ¹⁰³Cd was significantly extended. A strong cascade of E2 transitions connecting negative parity states was found. Shell model calculations were performed and positive parity excited states were interpreted in terms of neutron-particle and proton-hole excitations with respect to the doubly magic N = Z = 50 core. The negative parity band was well reproduced by the total routhian surface calculations.     

The criterion for vacuum stability in Kaluza-Klein supergravity

We prove that in the spectrum of the d = 4 theory obtained by Freund-Rubin compactification of d = 11 superconductivity, only fields of spin 0⁺ can give rise to classical instabilities. The criterion for stability in the 0⁺ sector can be expressed as a certain lower bound on the Lichnerowicz operator Δ_L on the d = 7 compact space. Thus not only are supersymmetric vacua always stable but so are the corresponding non-supersymmetric vacua obtained by reversing the orientation of the compact space, since the 0⁺ spectrum is insensitive to the orientation. Examples are the orientation-reversed spaces with N = 0 obtained from the squashed seven-sphere with N = 1 and from SU(3) ×SU(2) ×U(1) spaces with N = 2 supersymmetry. Product spaces, on the other hand, are always unstable. Finally, we examine the massless sectors of the squashed seven-sphere vacua, and find an additional 135 massless scalars.     

Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz for N = 1 supersymmetric theories

We study a series of N = 1 supersymmetric integrable particle theories in d = 1 + 1 dimensions. These theories are represented as integrable perturbations of specific N = 1 superconformal field theories. Starting from the conjectured S-matrices for these theories, we develop the Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz (TBA), where we use that the 2-particle S-matrices satisfy a free fermion condition. Our analysis proves a conjecture by E. Melzer, who proposed that these N = 1 supersymmetric. TBA systems are “folded” versions of N = 2 supersymmetric TBA systems that were first studied by P. Fendley and K. Intriligator.     

Structure in the reaction π+p → Δ++ϱo AT 5 GeV/c

In a high statistics experiment a large dσ/dt′ slope of (23.7 ± 3.2) GeV^?2 is obtained in the forward direction. The natural parity exchange cross-section shows a dip at t′ ≈ 0.2 GeV² and peak at ≈ 0.6 GeV². The ?^o is separated from the S-wave background and we obtain ?₀₀^F ≈ 0.94, at t′ = 0.     

Magnetic-dipole hyperfine structure in 4d- and 5d-shell atoms

The magnetic-dipole hyperfine interaction constantsA of low-lying metastable atomic levels in⁹¹Zr,¹⁸¹Ta,¹⁸³W, and¹⁹¹Ir determined from atomic-beam magnetic-resonance investigations are analyzed with respect to the effective-operator formalism. Similar results for other 4d- and 5d-shell atoms are also tabulated. The experimental results for the effective 〈r ^?3〉 values are compared with relativistic predictions for the 4d ^N 5s and 5d ^N 6s ² series.     

Discrete symmetries in Kaluza-Klein theories

We investigate discrete symmetries in theories of higher-dimensional (d > 4) gravity and their consequences for the reduced four-dimensional theory, obtained for a ground state which is a direct product of four-dimensional Minkowski space and a compact d ? 4 dimensional internal space. If the action of pure d-dimensional gravity coupled to spinors is invariant under time reversal or reflection of an odd number of spacelike co-ordinates, the reduced four-dimensional theory has a non-trivial parity or CT symmetry not consistent with observation. A non-trivial d-dimensional charge conjugation results in an unwanted doubling of the four-dimensional fermion spectrum. As a consequence, realistic theories can only be obtained for Majorana-Weyl spinors in d = 2 mod 8 dimensions. The constraints are less stringent if supplementary fields are introduced in d dimensions. For d = 11 supergravity, for example, parity and CT invariance can be broken by a non-vanishing field strength of the totally antisymmetric three-index tensor.A ground state invariant under reflections of “internal” co-ordinates often gives rise to a non-trivial charge conjugation in four dimensions. We find that the ground state of a realistic Kaluza-Klein theory should not be invariant under any non-trivial internal co-ordinate reflection (which cannot be obtained by a gauge transformation). We finally comment on a possible solution of the strong-CP problem from Kaluza-Klein theories and discuss prospectives for finding internal spaces admitting chiral fermions.     

Towards a quantum field theory of primitive string fields

We denote generating functions of massless even higher-spin fields ??primitive string fields?? (PSF??s). In an introduction we present the necessary definitions and derive propagators and currents of these PDF??s on flat space. Their off-shell cubic interaction can be derived after all off-shell cubic interactions of triplets of higher-spin fields have become known. Then we discuss four-point functions of any quartet of PSF??s. In subsequent sections we exploit the fact that higher-spin field theories in AdS _d+1 are determined by AdS/CFT correspondence from universality classes of critical systems in d-dimensional flat spaces. The O(N) invariant sectors of the O(N) vector models for 1 ?? N ??? play for us the role of ??standard models??, for varying N, they contain, e.g., the Ising model for N = 1 and the spherical model for N = ??. A formula for the masses squared that break gauge symmetry for these O(N) classes is presented for d = 3. For the PSF on AdS space it is shown that it can be derived by lifting the PSF on flat space by a simple kernel which contains the sum over all spins. Finally we use an algorithm to derive all symmetric tensor higher-spin fields. They arise from monomials of scalar fields by derivation and selection of conformal (quasiprimary) fields. Typically one monomial produces a multiplet of spin s conformal higher-spin fields for all s ?? 4, they are distinguished by their anomalous dimensions (in CFT ₃) or by theirmass (in AdS ₄). We sum over these multiplets and the spins to obtain ??string type fields??, one for each such monomial.