Extended supersymmetry and gauge theories

A formulation of gauge theories with an extended supersymmetry for N = 2 is given in terms of superfields. The Lagrangian is expressed in terms of superfields and component fields as well.     

Dynamical supersymmetry breaking and gauge anomalies

Some aspects of supersymmetric gauge theories and discussed. It is shown that dynamical supersymmetry breaking does not occur in supersymmetric QED in higher dimensions. The cancellation of both local (perturbative) and global (non-perturbative) gauge anomalies are also discussed in supersymmetric gauge theories. We argue that there is no dynamical supersymmetry breaking in higher dimensions in any supersymmetric gauge theories free of gauge anomalies. It is also shown that for supersymmetric gauge theories in higher dimensions with a compact connected simple gauge group, when the local anomaly-free condition is satisfied, there can be at most a possibleZ ₂ global gauge anomaly in extended supersymmetricSO(10) (or spin (10)) gauge theories inD=10 dimensions containing additional Weyl fermions in a spinor representation ofSO(10) (or spin (10)). In four dimensions with local anomaly-free condition satisfied, the only possible global gauge anomalies in supersymmetric gauge theories areZ ₂ global gauge anomalies for extended supersymmetricSP(2N) (N=rank) gauge theories containing additional Weyl fermions in a representation ofSP(2N) with an odd 2nd-order Dynkin index.     

Coupled chiral and supersymmetry anomalies in supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories

Supersymmetric Yang—Mills theories in component formulation lead to coupled chiral and supersymmetry anomalies. In ten dimensions the coupled consistency conditions are solved to give the lending term for the supersymmetry anomaly.     

Quantization of gauge theories with global anomalies

Global anomalies, which obstruct the quantization of certain gauge theories in the temporal gauge, get bypassed in canonical quantization.     

Existence of a nicolai mapping for some supersymmetry gauge theories

We find two classes of supersymmetry theories such that after Fermi-field integration and Bose-field transformation the graded partition function reduces to that of a free theory. We study theories with or without gauge symmetries and relate these results with the possibility of dynamical breaking of supersymmetry. Within these theories are N=2 and N=4 Super Yang-Mills.     

On supersymmetry breaking in superstring theories

We show that non-zero gaugino condensates of several non-abelian gauge groups G₁⊗…⊗G_k∃E₈ in low-energy d=4 superstring E₈⊗E₆ gauge theory can lead to the exponentially small (compared to the Planck scale) supersymmetry breaking scale. The Hosotani mechanism can provide the E₈→G₁⊗…⊗G_k breaking.     

Geometry and topology of chiral anomalies in gauge theories

Geometrical and topological aspects of chiral anomalies in gauge theories are reviewed. Geometrical and topological concepts and results for chiral anomalies in gauge theories are considered, including differential forms, Lie groups, homotopy, homology, cohomology, Riemannian manifolds, fibre bundles, characteristic classes, index theorems and spectral flow. Gauge theories and their formulation in terms of differential forms and fibre bundles are described. The quantisation of gauge theories is performed using path integrals, and the orbit space, BRST symmetries and ? vacuum are discussed. Gauge theories with fermions are formulated, including realistic models of strong and weak interactions. Chiral anomalies and related issues such as the existence of Schwinger terms, their origins in terms of differential forms, cohomology, the orbit space, BRST identities, Hamiltonian systems and relations to index theorems are analysed. Constraints on models for particle physics from chiral anomalies and theories involving spontaneously broken chiral symmetry described by effective Lagrangians are also mentioned.     

Cancellation of global anomalies in spontaneously broken gauge theories

I discuss the generalization to global gauge anomalies of the familiar procedure for the cancellation of local gauge anomalies in effective theories of spontaneously broken symmetries     

Covariant and consistent anomalies in even-dimensional chiral gauge theories

This paper is devoted to various aspects of anomalies in even-dimensional chiral gauge theories. The difference between the covariant and consistent anomalies is carefully explained in terms of their different origins. The consistent current is defined in terms of a gauge-variant effectve action constructed from the covariant current. An alternative scheme is set up where the covariant anomaly is unaltered but the consistent anomaly vanishes because the effective actions is gauge-invariant. A discussion of theories with vector and axial currents separately gauged is included: here, apart from the covariant anomalies, two different ways of constructing gauge-variant effective actions are possible, giving rise to different structures of the consistent anomalies.     

Chiral anomalies in higher-derivative supersymmetric 6D gauge theories

We show that the recently constructed higher-derivative 6D SYM theory involves internal chiral anomaly breaking gauge invariance. The anomaly is cancelled when adding to the theory an adjoint matter hypermultiplet.     

Consistent and covariant anomalies in gauge and gravitational theories

The gauge structure of anomalies and the related currents is analyzed in detail. We construct the covariant forms for both the currents and the anomalies for general gauge theories in even-dimensional space-time. The results are then extended to determine the structure of gravitational anomalies. These can always be interpreted as anomalies for local Lorentz transformations.     

On nonlinear gauge theories

In this note, we study non-linear gauge theories for principal bundles, where the structure group is replaced by a Lie groupoid. We follow the approach of Moerdijk–Mr?un and establish its relation with the existing physics literature. In particular, we derive a new formula for the gauge transformation which closely resembles and generalizes the classical formulas found in Yang Mills gauge theories.     

Point-splitting analysis of commutator anomalies in non-abelian chiral gauge theories

A gauge covariant point-splitting regularisation is employed to calculate different anomalous commutators in four dimensional chiral gauge theories. For an external gauge field the fixed time anomalous commutator of the gauge group generators is seen to violate the Jacobi identity. The cohomological prediction can be confirmed provided the electric fields do not commute. Other commutators like the current-current and current-electric field are consistent with the Bjorken-Johnson-Low (BJL) derivation.     

Parity anomalies in gauge theories in 2 + 1 dimensions

It is shown that the introduction of massless fermions in an abelian gauge theory in 2 + 1 dimensions does not lead to any parity anomaly despite a non-commutativity of limits in the structure function of the odd part of the vacuum polarisation tensor. However, a parity anomaly does exist in non-abelian theories due to a conflict between gauge invariance under large gauge transformations and the parity symmetry.     

On the Meissner effect in gauge theories

The phase structure of spontaneously broken scalar electrodynamics in an external electromagnetic field is analyzed. With no external field, the spectrum comprises a scalar boson of mass m_H and a vector boson of mass m_W. If m_H ≤ m_W, it is shown that in the tree approximation, as the external field is increased, a first order phase transition to a restored symmetry phase occurs, and the critical field strength is calculated. Below the critical point the external field is completely screened, this being the analogue of the Meissner effect in superconductivity. If m_H > m_W, a third phase, characterized by vortex solutions of the field equations, occurs. Quantum effects, such as pair production in an electric field, are considered at the one (and two) loop level in the massless theory (the Coleman-Weinberg model). The leading correction to the critical magnetic field strength is calculated, and it is shown that for an external electric field the phase transition does not exist.     

On gauge theories of mass

The classical Einstein–Hilbert action in general relativity extends naturally to a blow-up (in the sense of algebraic geometry) of the usual space of pseudo-Riemannian metrics; this presents the metric tensor _gik$g_{ik}$ as a kind of Goldstone boson associated to the real scalar field defined by its determinant. This seems to be quite compatible with the Higgs mechanism in the standard model of particle physics.