Supersymmetry and bosonization in three dimensions

We discuss on the possible existence of a supersymmetric invariance in purely fermionic planar systems and its relation to the fermion-boson mapping in three-dimensional quantum field theory. We consider, as a very simple example, the bosonization of free massive fermions and show that, under certain conditions on the masses, this model displays a supersymmetric-like invariance in the low energy regime. We construct the purely fermionic expression for the supercurrent and the non-linear supersymmetry transformation laws. We argue that the supersymmetry is absent in the limit of massless fermions where the bosonized theory is non-local.     

Scattering amplitudes in open superstring theory

This review is concerned with scattering amplitudes in open superstring theories. In particular, we introduce two different formalisms to compute tree level amplitudes – the Ramond Neveu Schwarz‐ (RNS‐) and the Pure Spinor (PS‐) formalism. The RNS approach proves to be flexible in describing compactifications from ten to four flat spacetime dimensions. We solve the technical problems due to the underlying interacting conformal field theory on the worldsheet. This is exploited to extract phenomenologically relevant scattering amplitudes of gluons and quarks as well as production‐ and decay rates of massive vibration modes which have already been identified as virtual exchange particles at the massless level. In case of a TeV string scale, string specific signatures in parton collisions might be observed at the LHC experiment in the near future and constitute the first experimental evidence for string theory. These statements apply to a wide class of string vacua and therefore bypass the so‐called landscape problem of string theory. The PS formalism allows for a manifestly supersymmetric treatment of scattering amplitudes in ten spacetime dimensions with sixteen supercharges. We introduce a family of superfields which arises in tree amplitudes of massless open string states and can be naturally identified with diagrams made of cubic vertices. We firstly achieve a compact superspace representation of multiparticle field theory amplitudes and moreover express the complete n point superstring amplitude as a minimal linear combination of partial field theory amplitudes and hypergeometric functions. The latter carry the stringy effects and are analyzed from different perspectives.     

A smooth massless limit for supersymmetric QCD

We analyse in detail the behaviour of supersymmetric QCD with a number of flavours M smaller than the number of colours N, for quark masses smaller than the dynamically generated scale Λ. In this regime, we find it useful to move from meson superfields to Nambu–Goldstone-like variables. In particular we work out the mass spectrum and the set of decay constants that specify the interactions of the low-energy theory. We explicitly check that masses and decay constants have a consistent behaviour under decoupling and that they satisfy current algebra requirements. Finally we speculate about the massless limit. For vanishing quark masses, and only in this case, the relation between mesons and Nambu–Goldstone variables becomes singular. When analysed in terms of the Nambu–Goldstone superfields, the massless limit exhibits a spontaneous breaking of the flavour symmetry, with massless Goldstone modes embedded in an M²-dimensional complex moduli space. The symmetry-breaking order parameter is formally infinite, but this has the only effect of turning off the interactions between the chiral superfields. The massive case, for masses smaller than Λ, can be thought of as a perturbation around the massless case, with corrections that can be systematically computed in the effective theory.     

Topological massive sigma models

In this paper we construct topological sigma models which include a potential and are related to twisted massive supersymmetric sigma models. Contrary to a previous construction these models have no central charge and do not require the manifold to admit a Killing vector. We use the topological massive sigma model constructed here to simplify the calculation of the observables. Lastly it is noted that this model can be viewed as interpolating between topological massless sigma models and topological Landau-Ginzburg models.     

Instanton effects in supersymmetric gauge theories

We investigate how in supersymmetric gauge theories non-perturbative effects are able to generate non-trivial vacuum properties otherwise forbidden by perturbative non-renormalization theorems. This conclusion can be reliably drawn since the constancy of certain Green functions — due to supersymmetry (SUSY) — allows one to connect vacuum-dominated large distances with short-distance behaviour which is reliably computed by instanton methods. In all the cases we discuss (without matter, with massive or massless matter in real representations and, finally, with matter in complex representations) instanton calculations imply the occurrence of a variety of condensates. For the pure SUSY gauge theory, a gluino condensate induces the spontaneous breaking of Z_2N. For massive super-quantum chromodynamics (SQCD) we find a peculiar mass dependence of matter condensates whose origin is traced to mass singularities of non-zero mode instanton contributions. These contributions force the massless limit of SQCD to differ from the strictly massless case, in which the spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetries is induced. Inconsistency with an anomaly equation forces either infinite matter condensates or spontaneous SUSY breaking in the massless cases. For non-constant Green functions, instantons are shown to provide new calculable short-distance singularities of an obvious non-perturbative nature.     

Massive supersymmetric quantum gauge theory

We continue the study of the supersymmetric vector multiplet in a purely quantum framework. We obtain some new results which make the connection with the standard literature. First we construct the one‐particle physical Hilbert space taking into account the (quantum) gauge structure of the model. Then we impose the condition of positivity for the scalar product only on the physical Hilbert space. Finally we obtain a full supersymmetric coupling which is gauge invariant in the supersymmetric sense in the first order of perturbation theory. By integrating out the Grassmann variables we get an interacting Lagrangian for a massive Yang‐Mills theory related to ordinary gauge theory; however the number of ghost fields is doubled so we do not obtain the same ghost couplings as in the standard model Lagrangian.     

Approximate Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield states

We consider dimensionally reduced three-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory. Although the N=1 supersymmetry of this theory does not allow local massive Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) states, we find approximate BPS states which have nonzero masses that are almost independent of the Yang-Mills coupling constant and which are a reflection of the massless BPS states of the underlying N=1 super-Yang-Mills theory. The masses of these states at large Yang-Mills coupling are exactly at the n-particle continuum thresholds. This leads to a relation between their masses at zero and large Yang-Mills coupling.     

The soliton supermultiplet in 4 + 1 dimensions

We consider the SO(4) = SU(2) ? USp(2) Clifford algebra, obtained by the supersymmetry algebra for the N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in 4+1 dimensions, which, in the phase of unbroken gauge symmetry, has a topological charge as central charge. We find that, even if the Higgs mechanism is absent, the massive soliton supermultiplet contains the same number of states as the massless supermultiplet of elementary particles.     

Perturbation theory and renormalization of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories

We solve the problem of introducing, in supersymmetric Yang-Mills Lagrangians, a supersymmetric gauge breaking term and a Faddeev-Popov ghost interaction term. The resulting Lagrangian turns out to be invariant under a global symmetry transformation which is the supersymmetric extension of the Slavnov symmetry. We show that the complete analysis of all primitively divergent supergraphs ensures, in conjunction with the Slavnov identities, the renormalizability of the theory, once a supersymmetric and gauge invariant regularizing procedure has been introduced. We find that the simplest regularizing procedure is a generalization of the higher covariant derivatives method. In the case of interaction with matter fields we prove that no mass counter term is needed, in exact analogy with the model without gauge fields. Finally we show that, in the Abelian situation, a supersymmetric mass term for the vector multiplet can be introduced without spoiling the renormalizability, thus providing the supersymmetric extension of massive vector bosons theories.     

Boundary renormalisation group flows of the supersymmetric Lee–Yang model and its extensions

In this paper we examine the supersymmetric Lee–Yang model in the presence of boundaries. We determine the reflection factors for the Neveu–Schwarz type boundary conditions from the reduction of the supersymmetric sine-Gordon model and check them by using boundary truncated conformal space approach in the massless case. We explore the boundary renormalisation groups flows using boundary TBA and TCSA.     

Massive self-duality solution associated with invariant one-forms

A massive self-duality solution associated with invariant 1-forms is presented. At the zero mass limit the massive self-dual theory of the SO(3) gauge group on 4 dimensions cannot be reduced to that of massless self-duality.In such a case the self-dual connection turns to the flat connection and one cannot obtain a massless theory in such an approach.     

Critical gravity in four dimensions

We study four-dimensional gravity theories that are rendered renormalizable by the inclusion of curvature-squared terms to the usual Einstein action with a cosmological constant. By choosing the parameters appropriately, the massive scalar mode can be eliminated and the massive spin-2 mode can become massless. This "critical" theory may be viewed as a four-dimensional analogue of chiral topologically massive gravity, or of critical "new massive gravity" with a cosmological constant, in three dimensions. We find that the on-shell energy for the remaining massless gravitons vanishes. There are also logarithmic spin-2 modes, which have positive energy. The mass and entropy of standard Schwarzschild-type black holes vanish. The critical theory might provide a consistent toy model for quantum gravity in four dimensions.     

Non-perturbative aspects in supersymmetric gauge theories

We review our present understanding of those non-perturbative features of supersymmetric gauge theories that are believed to determine the properties of their ground states (vacua). A wide variety of theories is discussed in detail: pure Yang-Mills, theories with massive or massless real matter fields, theories with chiral matter, both for SU(N) and for the case of a general compact gauge group (as for instance E₈). Depending on some general features of the theory under consideration, various (perhaps) unexpected phenomena are shown to occur. Among these the breakdown of the (perturbatively established) non-renormalization theorem, the occurrence of runaway vacua in certain limits, the spontaneous dynamical breaking of supersymmetry itself in some chiral theories. Throughout the report we restrict ourselves to the confining picture instanton method, occasionally complementing it with the information coming from chiral and supersymmetric Ward-Takahashi identities. We compare our results with the ones suggested earlier by effective Lagrangian methods and, only briefly, with those obtained by other groups in the Higgs picture.     

On the quantum mechanics of supermembranes

We study the quantum-mechanical properties of a supermembrane and examine the nature of its ground state. A supersymmetric gauge theory of area-preserving transformations provides a convenient framework for this study. The supermembrane can be viewed as a limiting case of a class of models in supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Its mass does not depend on the zero modes and vanishes only if the wave function is a singlet under supersymmetry transformations of the nonzero modes. We exhibit the complexity of the supermembrane ground state and examine various truncations of these models. None of these truncations has massless states.     

Lattice models with N=2 supersymmetry

We introduce lattice models with explicit N=2 supersymmetry. In these interacting models, the supersymmetry generators Q+/- yield the Hamiltonian H=(Q(+),Q(-)) on any graph. The degrees of freedom can be described as either fermions with hard cores, or as quantum dimers; the Hamiltonian of our simplest model contains a hopping term and a repulsive potential. We analyze these models using conformal field theory, the Bethe ansatz, and cohomology. The simplest model provides a manifestly supersymmetric lattice regulator for the supersymmetric point of the massless (1+1)-dimensional Thirring (Luttinger) model. Generalizations include a quantum monomer-dimer model on a two-leg ladder.     

Interaction Between Massive and Massless Gravitons by Perturbing Topological Field Theory

We test the Wu gauge theory of gravity with massive gravitons in the perturbing topological field theory framework.We show that the computation of the correlation function between massive and massless gravitons is reported up to 4-loop and appears to be unaffected by radiative correction.This result ensures the stability of the linking number between massive and massless gravitons with respect to the local perturbation,a result with potential wider applications in cosmology.     

Aspects of stability and phenomenology in type IIA orientifolds with intersecting D6‐branes

Intersecting branes have been the subject of an elaborate string model building for several years. After a general introduction into string theory, this work introduces in detail the toroidal and $\mathbb{Z}_N$‐orientifolds. The picture involving D9‐branes with B‐fluxes is shortly reviewed, but the main discussion employs the T‐dual picture of intersecting D6‐branes. The derivation of the R‐R and NS‐NS tadpole cancellation conditions in the conformal field theory is shown in great detail. Various aspects of the open and closed chiral and non‐chiral massless spectrum are discussed, involving spacetime anomalies and the generalized Green‐Schwarz mechanism. An introduction into possible gauge breaking mechanisms is given, too. Afterwards, both 𝒩 = 1 supersymmetric and non‐supersymmetric approaches to low energy model building are treated. Firstly, the problem of complex structure instabilities in toroidal ΩR‐orientifolds is approached by a $\mathbb{Z}_3$‐orbifolded model. In particular, a stable non‐supersymmetric standard‐like model with three fermion generations is discussed. This model features the standard model gauge groups at the same time as having a massless hypercharge, but possessing an additional global B‐L symmetry. The electroweak Higgs mechanism and the Yukawa couplings are not realized in the usual way. It is shown that this model descends naturally from a flipped SU(5) GUT model, where the string scale has to be at least of the order of the GUT scale. Secondly, supersymmetric models on the $\mathbb{Z}_4$‐orbifold are discussed, involving exceptional 3‐cycles and the explicit construction of fractional D‐branes. A three generation Pati‐Salam model is constructed as a particular example, where several brane recombination mechanisms are used, yielding non‐flat and non‐factorizable branes. This model even can be broken down to a MSSM‐like model with a massless hypercharge. Finally, the possibility that unstable closed and open string moduli could have played the role of the inflaton in the evolution of the universe is being explored. In the closed string sector, the important slow‐rolling requirement can only be fulfilled for very specific cases, where some moduli are frozen and a special choice of coordinates is taken. In the open string sector, inflation does not seem to be possible at all.     

Non-supersymmetric orientifolds of Gepner models

Starting from a previously collected set of tachyon-free closed strings, we search for N=2$N=2$ minimal model orientifold spectra which contain the standard model and are free of tachyons and tadpoles at lowest order. For each class of tachyon-free closed strings – bulk supersymmetry, automorphism invariants or Klein bottle projection – we do indeed find non-supersymmetric and tachyon free chiral brane configurations that contain the standard model. However, a tadpole-cancelling hidden sector could only be found in the case of bulk supersymmetry. Although about half of the examples we have found make use of branes that break the bulk space–time supersymmetry, the resulting massless open string spectra are nevertheless supersymmetric in all cases. Dropping the requirement that the standard model be contained in the spectrum, we find chiral tachyon and tadpole-free solutions in all three cases, although in the case of bulk supersymmetry all massless spectra are supersymmetric. In the other two cases we find truly non-supersymmetric spectra, but a large fraction of them are nevertheless partly or fully supersymmetric at the massless level.     

Structure of the two-point green function of the gauge field for N = 1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory regularized by higher covariant derivatives

For the most general renormalizable N = 1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, regularized by higher derivatives, we investigate a contribution to the Gell-Mann-Low function from the two-loop diagrams, containing cubic interaction of the matter superfields. We find that all integrals with respect to the loop momentum in the massless case are factorized to the integrals of total derivatives and can be easily calculated. Thus, we explain the origin of the relation between the two-loop β-function and the one-loop anomalous dimension of the matter superfield.     

Massless versus massive Hawking radiation in AdS2 spacetime

We study massless and massive Hawking radiations on a two-dimensional AdS spacetime. For the massless case, the quantum stress-energy tensor of a massless scalar field on the AdS background is calculated, and the expected null radiation is obtained. However, for the massive case, the scattering analysis is performed in order to calculate the absorption and reflection coefficients which are related to statistical Hawking temperature. On the contrary to the massless case, we obtain a nonvanishing massive radiation.