New D = 10, N = 1 superspace supergravity and local symmetries of superstrings

The superspace formulation of new D = 10, N = 1 supergravity is developed. It is shown that the background superspace of the new theory can be coupled to a test superstring in such a way that the local symmetries of the superstring are intact. This formulation necessarily makes use of the Vainberg construction so the action is analogous to the effective action for QCD with the WZW term. The results suggest that the ambiguity between the massless two-form and six-form in the SO(32) or E₈ × E₈ superstring theories can only be resolved by a gauge invariant, Lorentz-covariant formulation of superstring field theory.     

Manifestly supersymmetric O(α′) superstring corrections in new D = 10, N = 1 supergravity Yang-Mills theory

A systematic procedure in superspace to derive the O(α′) tree-level superstring corrections to the new D = 10, N = 1 (dual) supergravity Yang-Mills system is established. All the tree-level O(α′) corrections in the closed supersymmetry transformation laws are presented explicitly. These O(α′) corrections are regarded as a generalization of “matter” couplings in D = 10, N = 1 supergravity. The advantage of the superspace approach, based on superspace Bianchi identities, in comparison with the component formulation is elucidated. This new method is applicable to all anomaly-free D ⩽ 10 non-maximal supergravity theories, which utilize the Green-Schwarz mechanism. It also provides a way of introducing general higher-order powers of curvature tensors in D ⩽ 10 supergravity theories.     

N=2 superstrings in more than two dimensions?

For a string propagating in a Parisi-Sourlas superspace the critical dimension equals the difference in the number of positive-and negative-dimensional coordinates. In this way the dimension of the Minkowski subspace can be increased. Here we apply this to the N=2 superstring, with D_c=2 and find anomaly-free N=2 superstrings in all positive even dimensions. Nontrivial theories can be constructed from these N=2 theories by truncation: In a Parisi-Sourlas superspace with a ten-dimensional Minkowski subspace we find the N=1 NSR superstring, and with a four-dimensional Minkowski subspace we find an N=1 superstring, classically related to the D=10 NSR superstring by a canonical transformation.     

Unification of gravity and elementary particle interactions in 26 dimensions?

The presence of an 11-cocycle in ten-dimensional theories containing an E₈×E₈ Yang-Mills theory coupled to supergravity suggests that the fundamental theory is a 26-dimensional string theory based on the Leech lattice. A theory with equal numbers of bosons and fermions is constructed by truncating a certain natural infinite-dimensional representation of the Monster sporadic group. This theory appears to be a certain combination of pieces of heterotic and N = 2 superstring.     

Phenomenology ofSO(10) unified superstring models with intermediate scaleSU R(2) breaking

Electroweak breaking and the supersymmetric particle spectrum are discussed in superstring theories where the gauge group after compactification isSO(10)×E _s ^′ , and where the gauge symmetry after flux breaking isSU(3)×SU(2)×SU(2)×U(1).     

Manifestly supersymmetric extensions of (curvature)2-terms in six-dimensional N = 2 supergravity

A systematic and manifestly supersymmetric procedure for supersymmetrization of general (curvature)²-terms in N = 2 supergravity in six dimensions (D = 6) is presented in superspace. The general form of new terms for the supersymmetrization in supertranslation rules is given. As a by-product, the superspace structure of quaternionic Kähler manifolds is elucidated. Our method is the D = 6 application of our previously established formulation for the D = 10, N = 1 supergravity with the O(α′) superstring corrections.     

Superstring theory

Dual string theories, initially developed as phenomenological models of hadrons, now appear more promising as candidates for a unified theory of fundamental interactions. Type I superstring theory (SST I), is a ten-dimensional theory of interacting open and closed strings, with one supersymmetry, that is free from ghosts and tachyons. It requires that an SO(n) or Sp(2n) gauge group be used. A light-cone-gauge string action with space-time supersymmetry automatically incorporates the superstring restrictions and leads to the discovery of type II superstring theory (SST II). SST II is an interacting theory of closed strings only, with two D = 10 supersymmetries, that is also free from ghosts and tachyons. By taking six of the spatial dimensions to form a compact space, it becomes possible to reconcile the models with our four-dimensional perception of spacetime and to define low-energy limits in which SST I reduces to N = 4, D = 4 super Yang-Mills theory and SST II reduces to N = 8, D = 4 supergravity theory. The superstring theories can be described by a light-cone-gauge action principle based on fields that are functionals of string coordinates. With this formalism any physical quantity should be calculable. There is some evidence that, unlike any conventional field theory, the superstring theories provide perturbatively renormalizable (SST I) or finite (SST II) unifications of gravity with other interactions.     

Fermion mass relations from a superstring inspired model

It is assumed that theE ₈ gauge group of theE ₈×E ₈ heterotic superstring can be broken intoSO(10). A model to give the mass relationm _u /m _d =m _c /m _s =m _t /m _b is presented and Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing is discussed.     

AstrophysicalS(E) factor of8Li (α,n 0)11B and inhomogeneous Big Bang nucleosynthesis

The cross section of the¹¹B(n, α)⁸Li reaction has been measured atE _n=7.6 to 12.6 MeV. The neutron beam was produced via theD(d, n)³He reaction and aBF ₃ counter (with naturalB isotopic composition) served both as target for the¹¹B nuclides and as detector for the observation of the delayedα-activity of⁸Li. The data match well with previous results obtained atE _n =12.5 to 20.0 MeV. Using the principle of detailed balance the data were converted to the case of the⁸Li(α, n ₀)¹¹B reaction. The associated astrophysicalS(E) factor is dominated by a resonance atE _R=0.58 MeV of widthΓ _R =200 keV, withS(E _R )=8400 MeV b. ThisS (E _R ) value for the n₀ channel alone is already three times higher than the constantS(E) factor assumed previously and, thus, strengthens the significance of inhomogeneous Big Bang nucleosynthesis.     

N=1 supersymmetric truncations and the superstring low-energy effective theory

The question of discarding heavy fields in N=1 supersymmetric theories is analyzed. The analysis is applied to the compactification of the E₈ × E₈ superstring.     

Experimente mit Erdalkaliatomen in metastabilen Zuständen

An atomic beam source for atoms in metastable states is described. The source was used to produce metastable Ca and Sr atoms in the³ P _0,1,2 and¹ D ₂ and Mg atoms in the³ P _0,1,2 states. The population of these levels was high enough (about 30% of the atoms were in the³ P levels and 3% in the¹ D ₂ level) so that zero field level crossing experiments could be performed at highly excited levels which were populated by an optical excitation starting from the metastable states. The lifetime results obtained for Ca areτ(4s 4d ³ D ₁)=(1.21±0.07)·10^?8sec,τ(4s 4f¹ F ₃)=(2.84±0.23)· 10^?8sec, andτ(3d 4p ¹ F ₃)=(6.15±0.62)·10^?8 sec. The three lifetimes have been evaluated using theg _J values forLS-coupling. The quoted uncertainties include the errors by a possible deviation fromLS-coupling.     

Aspects of fractional superstrings

We investigate some issues relating to recently proposed fractional superstring theories withD _critical<10. Using the factorization approach of Gepner and Qiu, we systematically rederive the partition functions of theK=4, 8, and 16 theories and examine their spacetime supersymmetry. Generalized GSO projection operators for theK=4 model are found. Uniqueness of the twist field, _K/4 ^K/4, as source of spacetime fermions is demonstrated.Work supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract no. DEAC-0381ER40050     

On generalized Yang-Mills theories and extensions of the standard model in Clifford (tensorial) spaces

We construct the Clifford-space tensorial-gauge fields generalizations of Yang-Mills theories and the Standard Model that allows to predict the existence of new particles (bosons, fermions) and tensor-gauge fields of higher-spins in the 10 Tev regime. We proceed with a detailed discussion of the unique D₄ − D₅ − E₆ − E₇ − E₈ model of Smith based on the underlying Clifford algebraic structures in D = 8, and which furnishes all the properties of the Standard Model and Gravity in four-dimensions, at low energies. A generalization and extension of Smith’s model to the full Clifford-space is presented when we write explicitly all the terms of the extended Clifford-space Lagrangian. We conclude by explaining the relevance of multiple-foldings of D = 8 dimensions related to the modulo 8 periodicity of the real Cliford algebras and display the interplay among Clifford, Division, Jordan, and Exceptional algebras, within the context of D = 26, 27, 28 dimensions, corresponding to bosonic string, M and F theory, respectively, advanced earlier by Smith. To finalize we describe explicitly how the E₈ × E₈ Yang-Mills theory can be obtained from a Gauge Theory based on the Clifford (16) group.     

Covariant first and second quantization of the N = 2, D = 10 Brink-Schwarz superparticle

Using a new type of harmonic superspace variables, we reduce the N = 2, D = 10 Brink-Schwarz (BS) superparticle to a system whose constraints are (i) first class, (ii) functionally independent and (iii) Lorentz covariant. We show that these features are essential for a correct covariant quantization. Q_BRST is first rank. By using it to second quantize the system, we obtain a covariant off-shell unconstrained superfield action of the linearized D = 10 type IIB supergravity. A corresponding procedure for the Green Schwarz (GS) superstring is conjectured.     

Spectral function sum rules for gluonic currents

We determine the masses and the decay amplitudes of the 2⁺⁺, 0^?+ and 0⁺⁺ gluonia in anSU(3) _c Yang-Mills theory. We estimate the so-called topological susceptibility of theU(1) sector. We discuss theSU(3) _F breaking effects to the η′(896) massrelation from current algebra and predict the η′ parameter values.     

Observation and analysis ofE mesons in\bar p p annihilation at rest in H2 gas

Antiproton-proton annihilation at rest in a gaseous H₂ target at NTP into the final state π⁺ π^? K ^± π^? (K ⁰) with an undetectedK ⁰ or \(\bar K^0 \) has been investigated. We observe theE(1420) resonance in the invariant mass spectrum (K ⁰)_miss K ^± π^? with massM _E =1413±8 MeV/c² and widthГ ^E =62 ± 16MeV/c² and find evidence for the production of thef ₁(1285). The absolute branching ratio of \(\bar p\) p → π⁺ π^? E ⁰,E ⁰ →K ₀ ^L K ^± π ^? at (61±6)%P wave annihilation is (3.0±0.9)·10^?4 of all annihilations. The observed suppression of theE production fromP wave with respect to theS wave together with some simple selection rules suggest that the quantum numbers of theE(1420) areJ ^pc=0^?+ and not I⁺⁺.     

SU(7) Electroweak unification

Electroweak unification is obtained in anSU(7) model at a mass scale 3×10¹⁰≦M≦3×10¹⁶ GeV's, with left-right symmetric subgroups and sin² θ _w (M)=3/8. BelowM, the model reduces toSU(3) _L ×SU(3) _R , the flavor sector of the “trinification theory” of Glashow et al., or of theE ₆ grand unified theory. This model predicts a natural massless neutrino, and fractionally charged leptons with masses in theM regime.     

Deformed states of high spin in42Ca

The⁴²Ca levels at 4,715 and 6,633 keV excitation energy have been investigated using the³⁹ K(α,pγ reaction atE _α=14 and 15 MeV. From particle-γ-ray angular correlations the spin assignmentsJ(4,715)=6, 4 andJ(6,633)=8, 6, 4 have been obtained. Lifetime measurements using the Doppler-shift attenuation method yieldedτ (4,715)=120±46 fs andτ(6,633)=52±21 fs. Both levels have positive parity and decay by enhancedE2 transitions. They are interpreted as theJ ^π=6⁺ and 8⁺ members, respectively, of theK ^π=0⁺ rotational band which has theE _x =1,837, 2,423 and 3,250 keV states as further members. The enhancement of inbandE2 transitions is 50 _?16 ⁺³⁵ W.u. (6→4) and 63 W.u. (8→6) respectively. The intrinsic quadrupole moments which have been derived on the basis of the coexistence model, areQ ₀=1.13?0.16/+0.37b(8→6) andQ ₀=1.36±0.25b(6→4), respectively. TheJ ^π=10⁺ member of the rotational band has possibly been observed as a level at 8,856±5 keV excitation energy.     

Background field formalism and construction of effective action for N = 2, d = 3 supersymmetric gauge theories

We review the background field method for three-dimensional Yang-Mills and Chern-Simons models in N = 2 superspace. Superfield proper time (heat kernel) techniques are developed and exact expressions of heat kernels for constant backgrounds are presented. The background field method and heat kernel techniques are applied for evaluating the low-energy effective actions in N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills and Chern-Simons models as well as in N = 4 and N = 8 SYM theories.