Supersymmetry and Supergravity — Problem Sheet 3

MMathPhys, University of Oxford, HT2022, Dr Federico Bonetti

1 Chiral superfields

A chiral superfield is conveniently parametrized in terms of the “chiral superspace” coordinates

α̇ α̇
(y µ , ϑα , ϑ ), related to the “standard superspace” coordinates (xµ , θα , θ ) by
α̇ α̇
ϑα = θ α , ϑ =θ , y µ = xµ + i θ σ µ θ . (1)

A chiral superfield Φ is independent of ϑ,

√
Φ(y, ϑ) = X(y) + 2 ϑ ψ(y) + (ϑ ϑ)F (y) . (2)

Recall that a SUSY transformation in superspace reads

α̇
δΦ = (−i ξ α Qα − i ξ α̇ Q )Φ , (3)

for suitable differential operators Qα , Qα̇ . One can verify that these operators are given in terms the
α̇
“chiral superspace” coordinates (y µ , ϑα , ϑ ) by
 
∂ ∂ µ ∂
Qα = i α , Qα̇ = i − α̇
+ 2 i (ϑ σ )α̇ µ . (4)
∂ϑ ∂ϑ ∂y

1.a Use (3) and (4) to derive the SUSY transformation laws of the component fields,
√ √ √ √
δX = 2 ξ ψ , δψα = i 2 (σ µ ξ)α ∂µ X + 2 ξα F , δF = i 2 ξ σ µ ∂µ ψ . (5)

NB: These expressions are derived thinking of all component fields as functions of y µ , and
interpreting ∂µ as ∂/∂y µ . In the final result, however, we can equally regard the component
fields as functions of xµ , with ∂µ interpreted as ∂/∂xµ .
Hint: some of the spinor identities of Problem Sheet 1 can be useful. Another useful identity is
1
(ϑ χ)(ϑ λ) = − (ϑϑ) (χλ) . (6)
2
(As usual, all spinors are assumed to be Grassmann-odd.)

1.b Verify by direct computation that (2) and (1) imply the following expansion for Φ in terms of
the “standard” coordinates (x, θ, θ),

Φ = X(x) + i θ σ µ θ ∂µ (x) + 14 (θ θ) (θ θ) ∂ µ ∂µ X(x)

√ √
+ 2 θα ψα (x) − 22 i (θθ) (∂µ ψ σ µ θ) + θ θ F (x) . (7)

Hint: some of the spinor identities of Problem Sheet 1 can be useful. Other useful identities
include
1 1
θα θβ = − αβ θ θ , (θ σ µ θ)(θ σ ν θ) = − (θ θ) (θ θ) η µν . (8)
2 2

1
2 Non-Abelian field strength superfield

Let us consider the superspace description of a gauge theory with gauge group G. Recall that the gauge
potential is encoded in the real superfield V a , the field strength is encoded in the chiral superfield Wαa ,
and the gauge parameters are encoded in the chiral superfield Λa , with a = 1, . . . , dim G. Let us pick
a representation R of G, with generators ta . We can define the quantities V = V a ta , Wα = Wαa ta ,
Λ = Λa ta . In terms of these quantities, the gauge transformation of V a is written as
0 †
e2V = e−i Λ e2V ei Λ , (9)

and the definition of Wα in terms of V is

β̇
2 Wα = − 41 Dβ̇ D e−2V Dα e2V
 
. (10)

2.a Prove that the gauge transformation of Wα is

Wα0 = e−iΛ Wα eiΛ . (11)

Hint: use the anticommutation relations for SUSY covariant derivatives.

2.b Specialize (11) to an infinitesimal gauge transformation, with parameter Λ = I + δΛ.

2.c One can prove that, in Wess-Zumino gauge, one has

a
Wαa (y, ϑ) = −i λa (y) + ϑα Da (y) − i (σ µν ϑ)α Fµν
a
(y) + (ϑ ϑ) (σ µ Dµ λ )α (y) , (12)

where (y µ , ϑα ) are the “chiral” superspace coordinates, Fµν

a is the non-Abelian field strength,

and Dµ is the non-Abelian gauge covariant derivative. Use (12) to verify that
 
aα b a µ b a b 1 a bµν i µνρσ a b
δab W Wα = (ϑ ϑ) δab −2 i λ σ Dµ λ + D D − Fµν F −  Fµν Fρσ + . . . , (13)
2 4

where the omitted terms have fewer ϑ’s and all component fields are understood as functions
of y µ .
Hint: The following identities can be useful,
1 1
ϑα ϑβ = + αβ (ϑ ϑ) , ϑα ϑβ = − αβ (ϑ ϑ) ,
2 2
1
(σ µν ϑ)α (σ ρσ ϑ)α = − (ϑϑ) (σ µν )δ α (σ ρσ )α δ , (σ µν )α γ γβ = (σ µν )β γ γα ,
2
1 i
µν β ρσ α
(σ )α (σ )β = − (η µρ η νσ − η νρ η µσ ) − µνρσ (14)
2 2
Also recall the conventions for raising/lowering spinor indices, χα = αβ χβ , χα = αβ χβ , and
similarly for dotted indices.

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3 Spontaneously broken gauge symmetry with unbroken SUSY

Let us consider SQED with one flavor. The model is a gauge theory with gauge group U (1), one chiral
multiplet (X + , ψ + , F + ) of charge +1 and one chiral multiplet (X − , ψ − , F − ) of charge −1. We set the
superpotential to zero and we do not include any FI term. After eliminating the auxiliary fields, the
Lagrangian for the component fields reads

L = −Dµ X + Dµ X + − Dµ X − Dµ X − − i ψ + σ µ Dµ ψ + − i ψ − σ µ Dµ ψ −
h √ i
− 14 F µν Fµν − i λ σ µ ∂µ λ + i 2 g (X + ψ + λ − X − ψ − λ) + h.c.
− 12 g 2 (X + X + − X − X − )2 . (15)

The gauge covariant derivatives are

Dµ X ± = ∂µ X ± ± i g Aµ X ± , Dµ ψ ± = ∂µ ψ ± ± i g Aµ ψ ± . (16)

3.a Let v be a positive constant. Verify that the VEVs

hX + i = v , hX − i = v (17)

give a supersymmetric vacuum of the model and that the gauge symmetry U (1) is spontaneously
broken in this vacuum.

3.b We want to study the spectrum of scalar modes in the spontaneously broken phase. To this end,
it is convenient to perform the following field redefinitions,
eia e−ia
X+ = (S + ϕ1 + i ϕ2 ) , X− = (S − ϕ1 + i ϕ2 ) , (18)
2 2
where a, S, ϕ1 , ϕ2 are real scalar fields. Rewrite the kinetic terms for X ± and the scalar
potential, which are given by

Lkin,X ± = −Dµ X + Dµ X + − Dµ X − Dµ X − , V = 1
2 g 2 (X + X + − X − X − )2 , (19)

in terms of the real scalars a, S, ϕ1 , ϕ2 and the gauge field Aµ . Verify that the real scalars
S, ϕ1 , ϕ2 have canonical kinetic terms and that Aµ and a enter Lkin,X ± in the combination
Vµ = Aµ + g −1 ∂µ a.

3.c In terms of the scalar fields a, S, ϕ1 , ϕ2 , the field that gets a non-zero VEV is S. Find hSi by
comparing (17) and (18). We expand the scalar field S around its VEV as S = hSi + δS. Use
the expressions for Lkin,X ± and V derived in the previous point to verify that: the vector V µ
has m2 = 4 g 2 v 2 ; the scalar ϕ1 has m2 = 4 g 2 v 2 ; the scalars δS, ϕ2 , a are massless.

3.d We now consider the spectrum of fermions in the model. To this end, it is convenient to perform
the field redefinition
− 12 e−iπ/4
     1 1 iπ/4 
2e
√
ψ+ Ψ0 2
U =  √12 − 12 eiπ/4 21 e−iπ/4  .
 −
ψ  = U Ψ1  , (20)
   
λ Ψ2 1
0 √2 e iπ/4 1
√ e −iπ/4
2

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 Verify that U is unitary, which implies that Ψ0 , Ψ1 , Ψ2 have canonical kinetic terms. Plugging
(17) into the Yukawa couplings in (15), verify that the mass terms are diagonal when written in
terms of the new fermionic fields Ψ0 , Ψ1 , Ψ2 . Verify that Ψ0 is massless, while Ψ1 and Ψ2 both
have |m| = 2 g v.

Interpretation: The massless real scalar a is “eaten” by the massless vector Aµ to yield a massive
vector. The latter is described by the gauge-invariant combination Vµ = Aµ + g −1 ∂µ a. (This is the
standard HIggs mechanism.)

Because SUSY is unbroken, the massive vector must fit into a massive vector multiplet: indeed, Vµ ,
the real scalar ϕ1 and the fermions Ψ1 , Ψ2 form a massive vector multiplet of 4d N = 1 supersymmetry.

The other degrees of freedom (the massless scalars δS and ϕ2 , together with the fermion Ψ0 ) form
a massless chiral multiplet.