The Weak Mixing Angle From TeV Scale Quark-Lepton Unification

Unified theories based on an extended left-right symmetric group, $SU(4) \times SU(2)^4$, are constructed in five dimensions. The compactification scale is assumed to be only a loop factor above the weak scale, so that the weak mixing angle is predicted to be close to its tree level value of 0.239. Boundary conditions in the 5th dimension break $SU(4) \to SU(3) \times U(1)_{B-L}$, removing powerful constraints from $K_L \to \mu e$ while allowing a reliable calculation of the leading logarithm corrections to $\sin^2 \theta$. The compactification scale is expected in the 1--5 TeV region, depending on how $SU(2)^4$ is broken. Two illustrative models are presented, and the experimental signal of the $Z'$ gauge boson is discussed.Comment: 15 page

Realistic Anomaly Mediation with Bulk Gauge Fields

We present a simple general framework for realistic models of supersymmetry breaking driven by anomaly mediation. We consider a 5-dimensional "brane universe" where the visible and hidden sectors are localized on different branes, and the standard model gauge bosons propagate in the bulk. In this framework there can be charged scalar messengers that have contact interactions with the hidden sector, either localized in the hidden sector or in the bulk. These scalars obtain soft masses that feed into visible sector scalar masses at two loop order via bulk gauge interactions. This contribution is automatically flavor-blind, and can be naturally positive. If the messengers are in the bulk this contribution is automatically the same order of magnitude as the anomaly mediated contribution, independent of the brane spacing. If the messengers are localized to a brane the two effects are of the same order for relatively small brane spacings. The gaugino masses and A terms are determined completely by anomaly mediation. In order for anomaly mediation to dominate over radion mediation the radion must be is stabilized in a manner that preserves supersymmetry, with supergravity effects included. We show that this occurs in simple models. We also show that the mu problem can be solved by the vacuum expectation value of a singlet in this framework.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX2e, no figure

India and the Indo-Pacific an emerging regional vision

This report looks at India and the continuing change in political and trade influences in the Indo-Pacific region and the possible effects it will have on existing political powers such as the United States of America and Australia. The rapid expansion of trade, investment and production linkages in the area spanning the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the shift of economic power from the Trans-Atlantic to Asia has given rise to a push by commentators to have the ‘IndoPacific’ region recognised as a single geo-strategic arc. Yet, the concept remains politically contested and there has been insufficient attention paid to the geopolitical and geoeconomic drivers behind its emergence in particular national contexts. Among the most prominent promoters of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ have been commentators and state actors in the United States, Australia and India. This policy brief analyses the debate on the Indo-Pacific in India, in particular, and suggests that the adoption of the Indo-Pacific terminology by Indian officials is a reflection of the dominance of domestic economic imperatives in the making of contemporary Indian foreign policy. This is at variance with the driving motivation behind the promotion of the term by officials in the United States and Australia and suggests that the common adoption of the Indo-Pacific concept does not mean a convergence in foreign policy priorities

Symmetry Breaking Patterns for the Little Higgs from Strong Dynamics

We show how the symmetry breaking pattern of the simplest little Higgs model, and that of the smallest moose model that incorporates an approximate custodial SU(2), can be realized through the condensation of strongly coupled fermions. In each case a custodial SU(2) symmetry of the new strong dynamics limits the sizes of corrections to precision electroweak observables. In the case of the simplest little Higgs, there are no new light states beyond those present in the original model. However, our realization of the symmetry breaking pattern of the moose model predicts an additional scalar field with mass of order a TeV or higher that has exactly the same quantum numbers as the Standard Model Higgs and which decays primarily to third generation quarks.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

An understanding of environmental concepts and issues among grade 10-12 students from urban and rural schools

Several researchers have noted that the knowledge and awareness of students with regard to environmental concepts and issues are at a low level. The assumption is that pupils from urban schools are more knowledgeable about environmental concepts and issues than those from rural schools. The major aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and understanding of Grade 10-12 students about selected environmental concepts and issues such as population, ozone layer, green house effect, and acid rain. Another aim of this study is to find out whether there is any difference between the knowledge and awareness of Grade 10-12 students to environmental issues with regard to the location of their schools. This study was conducted at four secondary schools. The study involved the use of questionnaire, observation of the school settings and discussions with some students. It was found that students' knowledge and awareness of environmental issues are limited and that students from schools in urban areas had better scores than students from schools in rural areas. The results indicate that the majority of students have low levels of environmental knowledge

Radion Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking

We point out that in supersymmetric theories with extra dimensions, radius stabilization can give rise to a VEV for the $F$ component of the radius modulus. This gives an important contribution to supersymmetry breaking of fields that propagate in the bulk. A particularly attractive class of models is obtained if the standard-model gauge fields propagate in the bulk, while the quark and lepton fields are localized on a brane. This leads to gaugino mediated supersymmetry breaking without the need for singlets in the hidden sector. We analyze a simple explicit model in which this idea is realized