Kaluza-Klein Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking

We discuss a framework for communicating supersymmetry breaking to the visible sector where the radius modulus, which determines the size of extra dimensions, has an auxiliary vacuum expectation value. The modulus couplings generate mass splitting in Kaluza-Klein supermultiplets and they act as messengers of supersymmetry breaking. The soft masses are expressed in terms of renormalization-group functions and the sparticle spectrum is determined by what kind of field propagates in the bulk. This framework also provides new possibilities for solving the supersymmetric flavor problem.Comment: 10 page

New RG-invariants of Soft Supersymmetry Breaking Parameters

We study new renormalization-group invariant quantities of soft supersymmetry breaking parameters other than the ratio of gaugino mass to gauge coupling squared by using the spurion method. The obtained invariants are useful to probe supersymmetry breaking and mu-term generation mechanisms at high-energy scale. We also discuss the convergence behavior of fixed points of supersymmetry breaking parameters.Comment: 9 page

4D construction of bulk supersymmetry breaking

In this letter, we discuss a four-dimensional model with modulus fields which are responsible for supersymmetry breaking. Given non-trivial moduli dependence of the action, the model is found to give a proper description of higher-dimensional supersymmetry breaking. We explicitly calculate gaugino and scalar mass spectrum and show that several classes of scenarios proposed in the literature are described in certain regions of the parameter space of the moduli vacuum expectation values. The model in other generic regions of the moduli space gives unexplored scenarios (mass spectra) of supersymmetry breaking in four dimensions.Comment: 16 page

Yukawa hierarchy from extra dimensions and infrared fixed points

We discuss the existence of hierarchy of Yukawa couplings in the models with extra spatial dimensions. The hierarchical structure is induced by the power behavior of the cutoff dependence of the evolution equations which yield large suppressions of couplings at the compactification scale. The values of coupling constants at this scale can be made stable almost independently of the initial input parameters by utilizing the infrared fixed point. We find that the Yukawa couplings converge to the fixed points very quickly because of the enhanced energy dependence of the suppression factor from extra dimensions as well as in the case of large gauge couplings at high-energy scale.Comment: 13 pages, 3 eps figure

Focus Issue on Male Infertility

Male infertility problems can occur when sperms are limited in number or function. In this paper, we describe the clinical evaluation of male infertility. A detailed history, physical examination, and basic semen analysis are required. In addition, ultrasound, karyotyping, and hormonal studies are needed to determine specific causes of infertility. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2009) has developed a manual to provide guidance in performing a comprehensive semen analysis. Among the possible reasons for male infertility, nonobstructive azoospermia is the least treatable, because few or no mature sperm may be produced. In many cases, men with nonobstructive azoospermia typically have small-volume testes and elevated FSH. Although treatment may not completely restore the quality of semen from men with subnormal fertility, in some cases a successful pregnancy can still be achieved through assisted reproductive technology

Edge state on hydrogen-terminated graphite edges investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy

The edge states that emerge at hydrogen-terminated zigzag edges embedded in dominant armchair edges of graphite are carefully investigated by ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements. The edge states at the zigzag edges have different spatial distributions dependent on the $\alpha$- or $\beta$-site edge carbon atoms. In the case that the defects consist of a short zigzag (or a short Klein) edge, the edge state is present also near the defects. The amplitude of the edge state distributing around the defects in an armchair edge often has a prominent hump in a direction determined by detailed local atomic structure of the edge. The tight binding calculation based on the atomic arrangements observed by STM reproduces the observed spatial distributions of the local density of states.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, accepted for Physical Review