Rigid N=2 superconformal hypermultiplets

We discuss superconformally invariant systems of hypermultiplets coupled to gauge fields associated with target-space isometries.Comment: Invited talk given at the International Seminar "Supersymmetries and Quantum Symmetries", July 1997, Dubna. Latex, 9 p

Fermions and Supersymmetry Breaking in the Interval

We study fermions, such as gravitinos and gauginos in supersymmetric theories, propagating in a five-dimensional bulk where the fifth dimensional component is assumed to be an interval. We show that the most general boundary condition at each endpoint of the interval is encoded in a single complex parameter representing a point in the Riemann sphere. Upon introducing a boundary mass term, the variational principle uniquely determines the boundary conditions and the bulk equations of motion. We show the mass spectrum becomes independent from the Scherk-Schwarz parameter for a suitable choice of one of the two boundary conditions. Furthermore, for any value of the Scherk-Schwarz parameter, a zero-mode is present in the mass spectrum and supersymmetry is recovered if the two complex parameters are tuned.Comment: 10 pages. v2: Paragraph on off-shell globally supersymmetric Lagrangian added. Version published in PL

N=2 Super-Born-Infeld from Partially Broken N=3 Supersymmetry in d=4

We employ the non-linear realization techniques to relate the N=1 chiral, and the N=2 vector multiplets to the Goldstone spin 1/2 superfield arising from partial supersymmetry breaking of N=2 and N=3 respectively. In both cases, we obtain a family of non-linear transformation laws realizing an extra supersymmetry. In the N=2 case, we find an invariant action which is the low energy limit of the supersymmetric Born-Infeld theory expected to describe a D3-brane in six dimensions.Comment: 15 pages, no figures, RevTeX4, new comments and references added, some equations corrected, discussion at end of sec. 3 change

Superheavy Supersymmetry from Scalar Mass--A Parameter Fixed Points

In supersymmetric models, the well-known tension between naturalness and experimental constraints is relieved if the squarks and sleptons of the first two generations are superheavy, with masses of order 10 TeV, and all other superpartners are light, with masses of order 1 TeV. We show that even if all scalar masses and trilinear A parameters are of order 10 TeV at some high scale, a mass-squared hierarchy of order 400 may be generated dynamically through renormalization group evolution. The required high energy relations are consistent with grand unification, or, alternatively, may be realized in moduli-dominated supersymmetry-breaking scenarios.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Unifying N=5 and N=6

We write the Lagrangian of the general N=5 three-dimensional superconformal Chern-Simons theory, based on a basic Lie superalgebra, in terms of our recently introduced N=5 three-algebras. These include N=6 and N=8 three-algebras as special cases. When we impose an antisymmetry condition on the triple product, the supersymmetry automatically enhances, and the N=5 Lagrangian reduces to that of the well known N=6 theory, including the ABJM and ABJ models.Comment: 19 pages. v2: Published version. Minor typos corrected, references adde

The influence of shield gases on the surface condition of laser treated concrete

This work aims to elucidate the effects of using O2, Ar and He shield gasses during the treatment of the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) surface of concrete with a high power diode laser (HPDL). The findings showed a marked difference existed in the surface condition of the concrete after HPDL treatment depending on the shield gas used. The use of O2 as the shield gas was seen to result in glazes with far fewer microcracks and porosities than those generated with either Ar or He shield gases. Such differences were found to be due to the smaller O2 gas molecules dissolving molecularly into the open structure of the HPDL generated glaze on the OPC surface of concrete and react with the glass network to increase the fluidity of the melt. This in turn was also seen to affect the cooling rate and therefore the tendency to generate microcracks

Oblique DLCQ M-theory and Multiple M2-branes

We propose an oblique DLCQ as a limit to realize a theory of multiple M2-branes in M(atrix)-theory context. The limit is a combination of an infinite boosting of a space-like circle and a tuned tilting of the circle direction. We obtain a series of supergravity solutions describing various dual configurations including multiple M2-branes. For an infinite boosting along a circle wrapped obliquely around a rectangular torus, Seiberg's DLCQ limit distorts the torus modulus. In the context of supergravity, we show explicitly how this torus modulus of $\widetilde{\text M}$-theory is realized as the vacuum modulus of dual IIB-theory.Comment: v3: 25pages, extended version, References adde

Supersymmetric branes with (almost) arbitrary tensions

We present a supersymmetric version of the two-brane Randall-Sundrum scenario, with arbitrary brane tensions T_1 and T_2, subject to the bound |T_{1,2}| \leq \sqrt{-6\Lambda_5}, where \Lambda_5 < 0 is the bulk cosmological constant. Dimensional reduction gives N=1, D=4 supergravity, with cosmological constant \Lambda_4 in the range \half\Lambda_5 \leq \Lambda_4 \leq 0. The case with \Lambda_4 = 0 requires T_1 = -T_2 = \sqrt{-6\Lambda_5}. This work unifies and generalizes previous approaches to the supersymmetric Randall-Sundrum scenario. It also shows that the Randall-Sundrum fine-tuning is not a consequence of supersymmetry.Comment: 19pp; Published versio

The BLG Theory in Light-Cone Superspace

The light-cone superspace version of the d=3, N=8 superconformal theory of Bagger, Lambert and Gustavsson (BLG) is obtained as a solution to constraints imposed by OSp(2,2|8) superalgebra. The Hamiltonian of the theory is shown to be a quadratic form of the dynamical supersymmetry transformation.Comment: 45 pages, v2: reference added, minor typos corrected, published versio