BPS-saturated walls in supersymmetric theories

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review, D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.56.7990· OSTI ID:554442

Chibisov, B; Shifman, M ^[1]

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1. Theoretical Physics Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 (United States)

Domain-wall solutions in four-dimensional supersymmetric field theories with distinct discrete vacuum states lead to the spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry, either completely or partially. We consider in detail the case when the domain walls are the BPS-saturated states, and 1/2 of supersymmetry is preserved. Several useful criteria that relate the preservation of 1/2 of supersymmetry on the domain walls to the central extension appearing in the N=1 superalgebras are established. We explain how the central extension can appear in N=1 supersymmetry and explicitly obtain the central charge in various models: the generalized Wess-Zumino models, and supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories with or without matter. The BPS-saturated domain walls satisfy the first-order differential equations which we call the creek equations, since they formally coincide with the (complexified) equations of motion of an analog high-viscosity fluid on a profile which is given by the superpotential of the original problem. Some possible applications are considered. We also briefly discuss BPS-saturated strings. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 554442
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D, Journal Name: Physical Review, D Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 56; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
ALGEBRA
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SUPERSYMMETRY
SYMMETRY BREAKING
VACUUM STATES
VISCOSITY
YANG-MILLS THEORY