On structure of effective action in four-dimensional quantum dilaton supergravity

A general structure of effective action in new chiral superfield model associated with $N=1$, $D=4$ supergravity is investigated. This model corresponds to finite quantum field theory and does not demand the regularization and renormalization at effective action calculation. It is shown that in local approximation the effective action is defined by two objects called general superfield effective lagrangian and chiral superfield effective lagrangian. A proper-time method is generalized for calculation of these two effective lagrangians in superfield manner. Power expansion of the effective action in supercovariant derivatives is formulated and the lower terms of such an expansion are calculated in explicit superfield form

Covariant Harmonic Supergraphity for N = 2 Super Yang--Mills Theories

We review the background field method for general N = 2 super Yang-Mills theories formulated in the N = 2 harmonic superspace. The covariant harmonic supergraph technique is then applied to rigorously prove the N=2 non-renormalization theorem as well as to compute the holomorphic low-energy action for the N = 2 SU(2) pure super Yang-Mills theory and the leading non-holomorphic low-energy correction for N = 4 SU(2) super Yang-Mills theory.Comment: 17 pages, LAMUPHYS LaTeX, no figures; based on talks given by I. Buchbinder and S. Kuzenko at the International Seminar ``Supersymmetries and Quantum Symmetries'', July 1997, Dubna; to be published in the proceeding

Dynamical breaking of gauge symmetry in supersymmetric quantum electrodynamics in three-dimensional spacetime

The dynamical breaking of gauge symmetry in the supersymmetric quantum electrodynamics in three-dimensional spacetime is studied at two-loop approximation. At this level, the effective superpotential is evaluated in a supersymmetric phase. At one-loop order, we observe a generation of the Chern-Simons term due to a parity violating term present in the classical action. At two-loop order, the scalar background superfield acquires a nonvanishing vacuum expectation value, generating a mass term $A^{\alpha}A_{\alpha}$ through Coleman-Weinberg mechanism. It is observed that the mass of gauge superfield is predominantly an effect of the topological Chern-Simons term.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, PRD versio

N=4 Super Yang-Mills Low-Energy Effective Action at Three and Four Loops

We investigate the low-energy effective action in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory with gauge group SU(n) spontaneously broken down to its maximal torus. Using harmonic superspace technique we prove an absence of any three- and four-loop corrections to non-holomorphic effective potential depending on N=2 superfield strengths. A mechanism responsible for vanishing arbitrary loop corrections to low-energy effective action is discussed.Comment: LaTeX, 12 pages; minor correction

On the D = 4, N = 2 Non-Renormalization Theorem

Using the harmonic superspace background field formulation for general D=4, N=2 super Yang-Mills theories, with matter hypermultiplets in arbitrary representations of the gauge group, we present the first rigorous proof of the N=2 non-renormalization theorem; specifically, the absence of ultraviolet divergences beyond the one-loop level. Another simple consequence of the background field formulation is the absence of the leading non-holomorphic correction to the low-energy effective action at two loops.Comment: 16 pages, LATEX, uses FEYMAN macros, minor change

Constructing the Cubic Interaction Vertex of Higher Spin Gauge Fields

We propose a method of construction of a cubic interaction in massless Higher Spin gauge theory both in flat and in AdS space-times of arbitrary dimensions. We consider a triplet formulation of the Higher Spin gauge theory and generalize the Higher Spin symmetry algebra of the free model to the corresponding algebra for the case of cubic interaction. The generators of this new algebra carry indexes which label the three Higher Spin fields involved into the cubic interaction. The method is based on the use of oscillator formalism and on the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) technique. We derive general conditions on the form of cubic interaction vertex and discuss the ambiguities of the vertex which result from field redefinitions. This method can in principle be applied for constructing the Higher Spin interaction vertex at any order. Our results are a first step towards the construction of a Lagrangian for interacting Higher Spin gauge fields that can be holographically studied.Comment: Published Version; comments added in introduction; minor typos and references correcte

Ionization corrections in a multi-phase interstellar medium: Lessons from a z~2 sub-DLA

We present a high resolution (FWHM=2.7 km/s), high S/N echelle spectrum for the z = 2.26 QSO J2123-0050 and determine elemental abundances for the z = 2.06 sub-DLA in its line of sight. This high redshift sub-DLA has a complex kinematic structure and harbours detections of neutral (SI, CI), singly (e.g. CII, SII) and multiply ionized (e.g. CIV, SiIV) species as well as molecular H and HD. The plethora of detected transitions in various ionization stages is indicative of a complex multi-phase structure present in this high redshift galaxy. We demonstrate that the ionization corrections in this sub-DLA are significant (up to ~0.7 dex). For example, if no ionization correction is applied, a super-solar metallicity is derived ([S/H] = +0.36), whereas a single phase ionization correction reduces this to [S/H] = -0.19. The theoretical impact of a multi-phase medium is investigated through Cloudy modelling and it is found that the abundances of Si, S and Fe are always over-estimated (by up to 0.15 dex in our experiments) if a single-phase is assumed. Therefore, although Cloudy models improve estimates of metal column densities, the simplification of a single phase medium leaves a systematic error in the result, so that even ionization-corrected abundances may still be too high. Without ionization corrections the properties of this sub-DLA appear to require extreme scenarios of nucleosynthetic origins. After ionization corrections are applied the ISM of this galaxy appears to be similar to some of the sightlines through the Milky Way.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

BRST Lagrangian construction for spin-3/2 field in Einstein space

We explore a hidden possibility of BRST approach to higher spin field theory to obtain a consistent Lagrangian for massive spin-3/2 field in Einstein space. Also, we prove that in the space under consideration the propagation of spin-3/2 field is hyperbolic and causal.Comment: 9 pages; v2: a reference added, misprints remove