Superpotential

About: Superpotential is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3836 publications have been published within this topic receiving 137867 citations.

Supersymmetric Gauge Theories with Decoupled Operators and Chiral Ring Stability.

Abstract: We propose a general way to complete supersymmetric theories with operators below the unitarity bound, adding gauge-singlet fields that enforce the decoupling of such operators. This makes it possible to perform all usual computations, and to compactify on a circle. We concentrate on a duality between an N=1 SU(2) gauge theory and the N=2 A_{3} Argyres-Douglas theory, mapping the moduli space and chiral ring of the completed N=1 theory to those of the A_{3} model. We reduce the completed gauge theory to 3D, finding a 3D duality with N=4 supersymmetric QED (SQED) with two flavors. The naive dimensional reduction is instead N=2 SQED. Crucial is a concept of chiral ring stability, which modifies the superpotential and allows for a 3D emergent global symmetry.

Inflating in a Better Racetrack

Abstract: We present a new version of our racetrack inflation scenario which, unlike our original proposal, is based on an explicit compactification of type IIB string theory: the Calabi-Yau manifold P^4_[1,1,1,6,9]. The axion-dilaton and all complex structure moduli are stabilized by fluxes. The remaining 2 Kahler moduli are stabilized by a nonperturbative superpotential, which has been explicitly computed. For this model we identify situations for which a linear combination of the axionic parts of the two Kahler moduli acts as an inflaton. As in our previous scenario, inflation begins at a saddle point of the scalar potential and proceeds as an eternal topological inflation. For a certain range of inflationary parameters, we obtain the COBE-normalized spectrum of metric perturbations and an inflationary scale of M = 3 x 10^{14} GeV. We discuss possible changes of parameters of our model and argue that anthropic considerations favor those parameters that lead to a nearly flat spectrum of inflationary perturbations, which in our case is characterized by the spectral index n_s = 0.95.

Instantons and SUSY breaking in F-theory

Abstract: We study instanton contributions to the superpotential of local F-theory compactifications which could potentially be used to engineer models of dynamical supersymmetry breaking. These instantons correspond to Euclidean 3-branes which form a threshold bound state with spacetime filling 7-branes. In certain cases, their contributions to the effective 4d superpotential can be determined in both perturbative string theory as well as directly via the topologically twisted theory on the 3-brane worldvolume, and in all cases we observe an exact match between these results. We further present an instanton generated Polonyi-like model, and characterize subleading corrections to the superpotential which arise from multi-instantons. We also study instanton contributions to 4d pure N=1 SU(N) gauge theory realized by a stack of 7-branes wrapping a rigid 4-cycle and find that there is a non-trivial contribution to the glueball superpotential from the single instanton sector. This correction is absent in the purely 4d theory and could conceivably be used either to stabilize moduli or to break supersymmetry.

AdS_4/CFT_3 -- Squashed, Stretched and Warped

Abstract: We use group theoretic methods to calculate the spectrum of short multiplets around the extremum of N=8 gauged supergravity potential which possesses N=2 supersymmetry and SU(3) global symmetry. Upon uplifting to M-theory, it describes a warped product of AdS_4 and a certain squashed and stretched 7-sphere. We find quantum numbers in agreement with those of the gauge invariant operators in the N=2 superconformal Chern-Simons theory recently proposed to be the dual of this M-theory background. This theory is obtained from the U(N)xU(N) theory through deforming the superpotential by a term quadratic in one of the superfields. To construct this model explicitly, one needs to employ monopole operators whose complete understanding is still lacking. However, for the U(2)xU(2) gauge theory we make a proposal for the form of the monopole operators which has a number of desired properties. In particular, this proposal implies enhanced symmetry of the U(2)xU(2) ABJM theory for k=1,2; it makes its similarity to and subtle difference from the BLG theory quite explicit.

A sufficient condition for de Sitter vacua in type IIB string theory

Abstract: We derive a sufficient condition for realizing meta-stable de Sitter vacua with small positive cosmological constant within type IIB string theory flux compactifications with spontaneously broken supersymmetry. There are a number of ‘lamp post’ construc-tions of de Sitter vacua in type IIB string theory and supergravity. We show that one of them — the method of ‘Kahler uplifting’ by F-terms from an interplay between non-perturbative effects and the leading α ′-correction — allows for a more general parametric understanding of the existence of de Sitter vacua. The result is a condition on the values of the flux induced superpotential and the topological data of the Calabi-Yau compactification, which guarantees the existence of a meta-stable de Sitter vacuum if met. Our analysis explicitly includes the stabilization of all moduli, i.e. the Kahler, dilaton and complex structure moduli, by the interplay of the leading perturbative and non-perturbative effects at parametrically large volume.