Patterns of Duality in N=1 SUSY Gauge Theories

We study the patterns in the duality of a wide class of N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories in four dimensions. We present many new generalizations of the classic duality models of Kutasov and Schwimmer, which have themselves been generalized numerous times in works of Intriligator, Leigh and the present authors. All of these models contain one or two fields in a two-index tensor representation, along with fields in the defining representation. The superpotential for the two-index tensor(s) resembles A_k or D_k singularity forms, generalized from numbers to matrices. Looking at the ensemble of these models, classifying them by superpotential, gauge group, and ``level'' -- for terminology we appeal to the architecture of a typical European-style theatre -- we identify emerging patterns and note numerous interesting puzzles.Comment: 34 pages, 4 figures, uses harvmac and table

More on Chiral-Nonchiral Dual Pairs

Expanding upon earlier work of Pouliot and Strassler, we construct chiral magnetic duals to nonchiral supersymmetric electric theories based upon SO(7), SO(8) and SO(9) gauge groups with various numbers of vector and spinor matter superfields. Anomalies are matched and gauge invariant operators are mapped within each dual pair. Renormalization group flows along flat directions are also examined. We find that confining phase quantum constraints in the electric theories are recovered from semiclassical equations of motion in their magnetic counterparts when the dual gauge groups are completely Higgsed.Comment: 25 pages, harvmac and tables macros, 1 figur

On the Z_2 Monopole of Spin(10) Gauge Theories

An "expanded" description is introduced to examine the spinor-monopole identification proposed by Strassler for four-dimensional $\cal N$ = 1 supersymmetric Spin(10) gauge theories with matter in F vector and N spinor representations. It is shown that a Z_2 monopole in the "expanded" theory is associated with massive spinors of the Spin(10) theory. For N=2, two spinor case, we confirm this identification by matching the transformation properties of the two theories under SU(2) flavor symmetry. However, for N $\ge$ 3, the transformation properties are not matched between the spinors and the monopole. This disagreement might be due to the fact that the SU(N) flavor symmetry of the Spin(10) theory is partially realized as an SU(2) symmetry in the "expanded" theory.Comment: 16 pages, LaTex, no figur

Meta-Stable Brane Configuration and Gauged Flavor Symmetry

Starting from an N=1 supersymmetric electric gauge theory with the gauge group Sp(N_c) x SO(2N_c') with fundamentals for the first gauge group factor and a bifundamental, we apply Seiberg dual to the symplectic gauge group only and arrive at the N=1 supersymmetric dual magnetic gauge theory with dual matters including the gauge singlets and superpotential. By analyzing the F-term equations of the dual magnetic superpotential, we describe the intersecting brane configuration of type IIA string theory corresponding to the meta-stable nonsupersymmetric vacua of this gauge theory.Comment: 16 pp, 3 figures; stability analysis in page 7 and 8 added and the presentation improved; reduced bytes of figures and to appear in MPL

D-term Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking Generating Split N=2 Gaugino Masses of Mixed Majorana-Dirac Type

Under a few mild assumptions, N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions is shown to be spontaneously broken in a self-consistent Hartree-Fock approximation of BCS/NJL type to one-loop off-shell, in the gauge theory specified by the gauge kinetic function and the superpotential of adjoint chiral superfields, in particular, that possesses N=2 extended supersymmetry spontaneously broken to N=1 at tree level. The N=2 gauginos receive mixed Majorana-Dirac masses and are split. We derive an explicit form of the gap equation, showing the existence of a nontrivial solution.Comment: 4 pages, the paper extended (a numerical plot of the solution to the gap equation, an estimate of the decay rate of the metastable vacuum, and discussion on nonvanishing term induced by the D term dynamical supersymmetry breaking diven), references adde

On the Relation Between the Holomorphic Prepotential and the Quantum Moduli in SUSY Gauge Theories

We give a simple proof of the relation \Lambda\p_artial{\Lambda}\F= {i\over2\pi}b_1\langle\Tr\phi^2\rangle, which is valid for $N=2$ supersymmetric QCD with massless quarks. We consider $SU(N_c)$ gauge theories as well as $SO(N_c)$ and $SP(N_c)$. Aa analogous relation which corresponds to massive hypermultiplets is written down. We also discuss the generalizations to $N=1$ models in the Coulomb phase.Comment: 9 pages, harvma

Gauge Symmetry Breaking through Soft Masses in Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

Effects of soft breaking in N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories are studied. For N_f < N_c, we include the dynamics of the non-perturbative superpotential and use the original (s)quark and gauge fields. For N_f > N_c +1, we formulate the dynamics in terms of dual (s)quarks and a dual gauge group SU(N_f-N_c). The mass squared of the squarks can be negative triggering spontaneous breakdown of flavor and color symmetry. The general condition for stability of the vacuum is derived. We determine the breaking pattern, determine the spectrum and argue that the masses vary smoothly as one crosses from the Higgs phase into the confining phase, thus exhibiting complementarity.Comment: Contribution to Inauguration Conferference of Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, 4-10 June, 1996, Seoul National University; LaTeX, no macros neede

Varieties of vacua in classical supersymmetric gauge theories

We give a simple description of the classical moduli space of vacua for supersymmetric gauge theories with or without a superpotential. The key ingredient in our analysis is the observation that the lagrangian is invariant under the action of the complexified gauge group \Gc. From this point of view the usual $D$-flatness conditions are an artifact of Wess--Zumino gauge. By using a gauge that preserves \Gc invariance we show that every constant matter field configuration that extremizes the superpotential is \Gc gauge-equivalent (in a sense that we make precise) to a unique classical vacuum. This result is used to prove that in the absence of a superpotential the classical moduli space is the algebraic variety described by the set of all holomorphic gauge-invariant polynomials. When a superpotential is present, we show that the classical moduli space is a variety defined by imposing additional relations on the holomorphic polynomials. Many of these points are already contained in the existing literature. The main contribution of the present work is that we give a careful and self-contained treatment of limit points and singularities.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX (uses revtex.sty