On Integrating Out Heavy Fields in SUSY Theories

We examine the procedure for integrating out heavy fields in supersymmetric (both global and local) theories. We find that the usual conditions need to be modified in general and we discuss the restrictions under which they are valid. These issues are relevant for recent work in string compactification with fluxes.Comment: Typos corrected, minor changes. 10 page

Anomaly cancellation in M-theory

We show the complete cancellation of gauge and gravitational anomalies in the M-theory of Horava and Witten using their boundary contribution, and a term coming from the existence of two and five-branes. A factor of three discrepancy noted in an earlier work is resolved. We end with a comment on flux quantization.Comment: 5 pages, Latex, typos corrected, minor notation change in eq. (0.7). Version to be published in Phys. Lett.

On the Passage from the Quantum theory to the Semi-Classical theory

In this paper an attempt is made to understand the passage from the exact quantum treatment of the CGHS theory to the semi-classical physics discussed by many authors. We find first that to the order of accuracy to which Hawking effects are calculated in the theory, it is inconsistent to ignore correlations in the dilaton gravity sector. Next the standard Dirac or BRST procedure for implementing the constraints is followed. This leads to a set of physical states, in which however the semi-classical physics of the theory seems to be completely obscured. As an alternative, we construct a coherent state formalism, which is the natural framework for understanding the semi-classical calculations, and argue that it satisfies all necessary requirements of the theory, provided that there exist classical ghost configurations which solve an infinite set of equations. If this is the case it may be interpreted as a spontaneous breakdown of general covariance.Comment: 19 pages, COLO-HEP-31

Black Hole Physics from Liouville Theory

In a previous paper it was shown that the quantum consistency conditions for the dilaton-gravity theory of Callan et al., imply that the cosmological constant term undergoes a dilaton dependent renormalization, in such a manner that the theory can be written as a Liouville-like theory. In this paper we discuss the physical interpretation of the solutions of this theory. In particular we demonstrate explicitly how quantum corrections tame the black hole singularity. Also under the assumption that in asymptotically Minkowski coordinates, there are no incoming or outgoing ghosts, we show that the Hawking radiation rate is independent of the number of matter fields and is determined by the ghost conformal anomaly.Comment: 15 pages, phyzzx (Note on Bondi mass added to end of paper

A note on brane creation

The M-theory origin of brane creation processes is discussed.Comment: A comment regarding T-duality and D-9-branes added. References added, minor corrections. 7 pages, Latex

Gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking and supergravity

We analyze simple models of gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking in the context of supergravity. We distinguish two cases. One is when the messenger of the supersymmetry breaking is a non Abelian gauge force and the other is when the messenger is a pseudoanomalous U(1). We assume that these models originate from string theory and we impose the constraint of the vanishing of the cosmological constant requiring also the stabilization of the dilaton. In the first case, we do not find vacua that are consistent with the constraints of gauge mediation and have a zero tree level cosmological constant. In the second case, no such conflict arises. In addition, by looking at the one loop cosmological constant, we show that the dilaton F-term can not be neglected in either case. For the gauge mediated case our considerations suggest that the dilaton must be frozen out of the low energy field theory by non-perturbative string dynamics.Comment: Revised version. Significant changes in Introduction and Conclusion, 9 page

A Unified Approach to Supersymmetry Breaking

General formulae for the soft SUSY breaking terms, valid in any SUGRA context, were derived in the mid-nineties. Since SUSY is not expected to have quantum anomalies, they should be valid in the quantum theory and be RG invariant down to the soft SUSY breaking scale. This observation enables us to give a uniform treatment of all phenomenological models for SUSY breaking and transmission, such as AMSB, GMSB, etc. In particular we find that the much discussed RG invariant formulae for soft SUSY breaking parameters in AMSB, effectively depend on a strong assumption of factorizability of the matter Kaehler metric. We then argue that there is no necessity for having ad hoc constructions such as mAMSB to counteract the negative squared slepton mass problem, since the natural framework that emerges in a sequestered model is one in which gaugino masses are as in AMSB, and the other soft terms are generated by RG running as in gaugino mediation.Comment: 13 page

The Cosmological Constant in Calabi-Yau 3-fold Compactifications of the Horava-Witten Theory

Brane world scenarios offer a way of setting the cosmological constant to zero after supersymmetry breaking provided there is a sufficient number of adjustable integration constants/parameters. In the case of the Horava-Witten theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau threefold, we argue that it is difficult to find enough freedom to get a zero (or small) cosmological constant after supersymmetry breaking.Comment: 9 page

Effective Potentials for Light Moduli

We examine recent work on compactifications of string theory with fluxes, where effective potentials for light moduli have been derived after integrating out moduli that are assumed to be heavy at the classical level, and then adding non-perturbative (NP) corrections to the superpotential. We find that this two stage procedure is not valid and that the correct potential has additional terms. Althought this does not affect the conclusion of Kachru et al (KKLT) that the Kaehler moduli may be stabilized by NP effects, it can affect the detailed physics. In particular it is possible to get metastable dS minima without adding uplifting terms.Comment: Minor revisions, References added, Version to be published in PLB, 14 pages 3 figure

Comments on No-Hair Theorems and Stabilty of Blackholes

In the light of recent blackhole solutions inspired by string theory, we review some old statements on field theoretic hair on blackholes. We also discuss some stability issues. In particular we argue that the two dimensional string blackhole solution is semi-classically stable while the naked singularity is unstable to tachyon fluctuations. Finally we comment on the relation between the linear dilaton theory and the $2d$ blackhole solution.Comment: 14 page