SUSY flavor structure of generic 5D supergravity models

We perform a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the SUSY flavor structure of generic 5D supergravity models on S ¹/Z ₂ with multiple Z ₂-odd vector multiplets that generate multiple moduli. The SUSY flavor problem can be avoided due to contact terms in the 4D effective K?hler potential peculiar to the multi-moduli case. A?detailed phenomenological analysis is provided based on an illustrative model.     

The Equivariant Cohomology Theory of Twisted Generalized Complex Manifolds

It has been shown recently by Kapustin and Tomasiello that the mathematical notion of Hamiltonian actions on twisted generalized Kähler manifolds is in perfect agreement with the physical notion of general (2, 2) gauged sigma models with three-form fluxes. In this article, we study the twisted equivariant cohomology theory of Hamiltonian actions on H-twisted generalized complex manifolds. If the manifold satisfies the ${\overline{\partial} \partial}It has been shown recently by Kapustin and Tomasiello that the mathematical notion of Hamiltonian actions on twisted generalized K?hler manifolds is in perfect agreement with the physical notion of general (2, 2) gauged sigma models with three-form fluxes. In this article, we study the twisted equivariant cohomology theory of Hamiltonian actions on H-twisted generalized complex manifolds. If the manifold satisfies the -lemma, we establish the equivariant formality theorem. If in addition, the manifold satisfies the generalized K?hler condition, we prove the Kirwan injectivity in this setting. We then consider the Hamiltonian action of a torus on an H-twisted generalized Calabi-Yau manifold and extend to this case the Duistermaat-Heckman theorem for the push-forward measure. As a side result, we show in this paper that the generalized K?hler quotient of a generalized K?hler vector space can never have a (cohomologically) non-trivial twisting. This gives a negative answer to a question asked by physicists whether one can construct (2, 2) gauged linear sigma models with non-trivial fluxes.     

Star Products with Separation of Variables Admitting a Smooth Extension

Given a complex manifold M with an open dense subset ?? endowed with a pseudo-K?hler form ?? which cannot be smoothly extended to a larger open subset, we consider various examples where the corresponding K?hler?CPoisson structure and a star product with separation of variables on (??, ??) admit smooth extensions to M. We give a simple criterion of the existence of a smooth extension of a star product and apply it to these examples.     

Special Kähler Manifolds

We give an intrinsic definition of the special geometry which arises in global N= 2 supersymmetry in four dimensions. The base of an algebraic integrable system exhibits this geometry, and with an integrality hypothesis any special K?hler manifold is so related to an integrable system. The cotangent bundle of a special K?hler manifold carries a hyperk?hler metric. We also define special geometry in supergravity in terms of the special geometry in global supersymmetry. Received: 5 December 1997 / Accepted: 16 November 1998     

Hybrid inflation in supergravity with (SU(1,1)/U(1))m Kähler manifolds

In the presence of fields without superpotential but with large vevs through D-terms the mass-squared of the inflaton in the context of supergravity hybrid inflation receives positive contributions which could cancel the possibly negative Kähler potential ones. The mechanism is demonstrated using Kähler potentials associated with products of SU(1,1)/U(1) Kähler manifolds. In a particularly simple model of this type all supergravity corrections to the F-term potential turn out to be proportional to the inflaton mass allowing even for an essentially completely flat inflationary potential. The model also allows for a detectable gravitational wave contribution to the microwave background anisotropy. Its initial conditions are quite natural largely due to a built in mechanism for a first stage of “chaotic” D-term inflation.     

Stabilization of the compactification volume by quantum corrections

We discuss prospects for stabilizing the volume modulus of N = 1 supersymmetric type IIB orientifold compactifications using only perturbative corrections to the K?hler potential. Concretely, we consider the known string loop corrections and tree-level alpha' corrections. They break the no-scale structure of the potential, which otherwise prohibits stabilizing the volume modulus. We argue that when combined, these corrections provide enough flexibility to stabilize the volume of the internal space without nonperturbative effects, although we are not able to present a completely explicit example within the limited set of currently available models. Furthermore, a certain amount of fine-tuning is needed to obtain a minimum at large volume.     

Sequestering by global symmetries in Calabi-Yau string models

We study the possibility of realizing an effective sequestering between visible and hidden sectors in generic heterotic string models, generalizing previous work on orbifold constructions to smooth Calabi-Yau compactifications. In these theories, genuine sequestering is spoiled by interactions mixing chiral multiplets of the two sectors in the effective Kähler potential. These effective interactions however have a specific current-current-like structure and can be interpreted from an M-theory viewpoint as coming from the exchange of heavy vector multiplets. One may then attempt to inhibit the emergence of generic soft scalar masses in the visible sector by postulating a suitable global symmetry in the dynamics of the hidden sector. This mechanism is however not straightforward to implement, because the structure of the effective contact terms and the possible global symmetries is a priori model-dependent. To assess whether there is any robust and generic option, we study the full dependence of the Kähler potential on the moduli and the matter fields. This is well known for orbifold models, where it always leads to a symmetric scalar manifold, but much less understood for Calabi-Yau models, where it generically leads to a non-symmetric scalar manifold. We then examine the possibility of an effective sequestering by global symmetries, and argue that whereas for orbifold models this can be put at work rather naturally, for Calabi-Yau models it can only be implemented in rather peculiar circumstances.     

Linear Perturbations of Quaternionic Metrics

We extend the twistor methods developed in our earlier work on linear deformations of hyperkähler manifolds [1] to the case of quaternionic-Kähler manifolds. Via Swann’s construction, deformations of a 4d-dimensional quaternionic-Kähler manifold ${\mathcal{M}}We extend the twistor methods developed in our earlier work on linear deformations of hyperk?hler manifolds [1] to the case of quaternionic-K?hler manifolds. Via Swann’s construction, deformations of a 4d-dimensional quaternionic-K?hler manifold M{\mathcal{M}} are in one-to-one correspondence with deformations of its 4d + 4-dimensional hyperk?hler cone S{\mathcal{S}}. The latter can be encoded in variations of the complex symplectomorphisms which relate different locally flat patches of the twistor space Z_S{\mathcal{Z}_\mathcal{S}}, with a suitable homogeneity condition that ensures that the hyperk?hler cone property is preserved. Equivalently, we show that the deformations of M{\mathcal{M}} can be encoded in variations of the complex contact transformations which relate different locally flat patches of the twistor space Z_M{\mathcal{Z}_\mathcal{M}} of M{\mathcal{M}}, by-passing the Swann bundle and its twistor space. We specialize these general results to the case of quaternionic-K?hler metrics with d + 1 commuting isometries, obtainable by the Legendre transform method, and linear deformations thereof. We illustrate our methods for the hypermultiplet moduli space in string theory compactifications at tree- and one-loop level.     

Unconventional low-energy SUSY from warped geometry

Supersymmetric models with a warped fifth spatial dimension can solve the hierarchy problem, avoiding some shortcomings of non-supersymmetric constructions, and predict a plethora of new phenomena at typical scales Λ not far from the electroweak scale (Λ∼ a few TeV). In this paper we derive the low-energy effective theories of these models, valid at energies below Λ. We find that, in general, such effective theories can deviate significantly from the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) or other popular extensions of it, like the NMSSM: they have non-minimal Kähler potentials (even in the M_p→∞ limit), and the radion is coupled to the visible fields, both in the superpotential and the Kähler potential, in a non-trivial (and quite model-independent) fashion. The corresponding phenomenology is pretty unconventional, in particular the electroweak breaking occurs in a non-radiative way, with tanβ≃1 as a quite robust prediction, while the mass of the lightest Higgs boson can be as high as ∼ 700 GeV.     

Gaugino masses in modular invariant supergravity

We calculate gaugino masses in string-derived models with hidden-sector gaugino condensation. The linear multiplet formulation for the dilaton superfield is used to implement perturbative modular invariance. The contribution arising from quantum effects in the observable sector includes the term recently found in generic supergravity models. A much larger contribution is present if matter fields with Standard Model gauge couplings also couple to the Green–Schwarz counter term. We comment on the relation of our Kähler U(1) superspace formalism to other calculations.     

Moduli space of non-abelian vortices

We completely determine the moduli space M(N,k) of k vortices in U(N) gauge theory with N Higgs fields in the fundamental representation. Its open subset for separated vortices is found as the symmetric product (CxCP(N-1))k/(see text)k. Orbifold singularities of this space correspond to coincident vortices and are resolved resulting in a smooth moduli manifold. The relation to K?hler quotient construction is discussed.     

Black holes and groups of type E 7

We report some results on the relation between extremal black holes in locally supersymmetric theories of gravity and groups of type E ₇, appearing as generalized electric-magnetic duality symmetries in such theories. Some basics on the covariant approach to the stratification of the relevant symplectic representation are reviewed, along with a connection between special K?hler geometry and a ??generalization?? of groups of type E ₇.     

Indefinite Kähler-Einstein Metrics on Compact Complex Surfaces

We completely classify those compact complex surfaces which admit indefinite Ricci-flat K?hler metrics. Slightly weaker results are also obtained for indefinite K?hler-Einstein metrics with non-zero scalar curvature. Received: 6 December 1996 / Accepted: 17 March 1997     

On Certain Kähler Quotients of Quaternionic Kähler Manifolds

We prove that, given a certain isometric action of a two-dimensional Abelian group A on a quaternionic Kähler manifold M which preserves a submanifold N ? M, the quotient M′ = N/A has a natural Kähler structure. We verify that the assumptions on the group action and on the submanifold N ? M are satisfied for a large class of examples obtained from the supergravity c-map. In particular, we find that all quaternionic Kähler manifolds M in the image of the c-map admit an integrable complex structure compatible with the quaternionic structure, such that N ? M is a complex submanifold. Finally, we discuss how the existence of the Kähler structure on M′ is required by the consistency of spontaneous ${\mathcal{N} = 2}$ to ${\mathcal{N} = 1}$ supersymmetry breaking.     

Self Duality Equations for Ginzburg–Landau¶and Seiberg–Witten Type Functionals¶with 6th Order Potentials

The abelian Chern–Simons–Higgs model of Hong-Kim-Pac and Jackiw–Weinberg leads to a Ginzburg–Landau type functional with a 6^th order potential on a compact Riemann surface. We derive the existence of two solutions with different asymptotic behavior as the coupling parameter tends to 0, for any number of prescribed vortices. We also introduce a Seiberg–Witten type functional with a 6^th order potential and again show the existence of two asymptotically different solutions on a compact K?hler surface. The analysis is based on maximum principle arguments and applies to a general class of scalar equations. Received: 13 October 1998 / Accepted: 21 October 2000     

Predictivity of models with spontaneously broken non-Abelian discrete flavor symmetries

In a class of supersymmetric flavor models predictions are based on residual symmetries of some subsectors of the theory such as those of the charged leptons and neutrinos. However, the vacuum expectation values of the so-called flavon fields generally modify the Kähler potential of the setting, thus changing the predictions. We derive simple analytic formulae that allow us to understand the impact of these corrections on the predictions for the masses and mixing parameters. Furthermore, we discuss the effects on the vacuum alignment and on flavor changing neutral currents. Our results can also be applied to non-supersymmetric flavor models.     

Massive nonlinear sigma models and BPS domain walls in harmonic superspace

Four-dimensional massive nonlinear sigma models and BPS wall solutions are studied in the off-shell harmonic superspace approach in which supersymmetry is manifest. The general nonlinear sigma model can be described by an analytic harmonic potential which is the hyper-Kähler analog of the Kähler potential in theory. We examine the massive nonlinear sigma model with multi-center four-dimensional target hyper-Kähler metrics and derive the corresponding BPS equation. We study in some detail two particular cases with the Taub-NUT and double Taub-NUT metrics. The latter embodies, as its two separate limits, both Taub-NUT and Eguchi–Hanson metrics. We find that domain wall solutions exist only in the double Taub-NUT case including its Eguchi–Hanson limit.     

Heterotic string from a higher dimensional perspective

The (abelian bosonic) heterotic string effective action, equations of motion and Bianchi identity at order α^′ in ten dimensions, are shown to be equivalent to a higher dimensional action, its derived equations of motion and Bianchi identity. The two actions are the same up to the gauge fields: the latter are absorbed in the higher dimensional fields and geometry. This construction is inspired by heterotic T-duality, which becomes natural in this higher dimensional theory.We also prove the equivalence of the heterotic string supersymmetry conditions with higher dimensional geometric conditions. Finally, some known Kähler and non-Kähler heterotic solutions are shown to be trivially related from this higher dimensional perspective, via a simple exchange of directions. This exchange can be encoded in a heterotic T-duality, and it may also lead to new solutions.     

Towards large volume big divisor D3/D7 “μ-split supersymmetry” and Ricci-flat Swiss-cheese metrics, and dimension-six neutrino mass operators

We show that it is possible to realize a “μ-split SUSY” scenario (Cheng and Cheng, 2005) [1] in the context of large volume limit of type IIB compactifications on Swiss-cheese Calabi-Yau orientifolds in the presence of a mobile space-time filling D3-brane and a (stack of) D7-brane(s) wrapping the “big” divisor. For this, we investigate the possibility of getting one Higgs to be light while other to be heavy in addition to a heavy higgsino mass parameter. Further, we examine the existence of long lived gluino that manifests one of the major consequences of μ-split SUSY scenario, by computing its decay width as well as lifetime corresponding to the three-body decays of the gluino into either a quark, a squark and a neutralino or a quark, squark and goldstino, as well as two-body decays of the gluino into either a neutralino and a gluon or a goldstino and a gluon. Guided by the geometric Kähler potential for ΣB obtained in Misra and Shukla (2010) [2] based on GLSM techniques, and the Donaldson?s algorithm (Barun et al., 2008) [3] for obtaining numerically a Ricci-flat metric, we give details of our calculation in Misra and Shukla (2011) [4] pertaining to our proposed metric for the full Swiss-cheese Calabi-Yau (the geometric Kähler potential being needed to be included in the full moduli space Kähler potential in the presence of the mobile space-time filling D3-brane), but for simplicity of calculation, close to the big divisor, which is Ricci-flat in the large volume limit. Also, as an application of the one-loop RG flow solution for the higgsino mass parameter, we show that the contribution to the neutrino masses at the EW scale from dimension-six operators arising from the Kähler potential, is suppressed relative to the Weinberg-type dimension-five operators.