Renormalization Flow, Duality, and Supersymmetry Breaking in Some N=1 Product-Group Theories

We discuss the renormalization group flow, duality, and supersymmetry breaking in N = 1 supersymmetric SU(N)xSU(M) gauge theories.Comment: Talk given at SUSY'96; 3 pages, LateX, style-, ps-files include

"Light from chaos" in two dimensions

We perform a Monte-Carlo study of the lattice two-dimensional gauged XY-model. Our results confirm the strong-coupling expansion arguments that for sufficiently small values of the spin-spin coupling the ``gauge symmetry breaking" terms decouple and the long-distance physics is that of the unbroken pure gauge theory. We find no evidence for the existence, conjectured earlier, of massless states near a critical value of the spin-spin coupling. We comment on recent remarks in the literature on the use of gauged XY-models in proposed constructions of chiral lattice gauge theories.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Warp Factors and Extended Sources in Two Transverse Dimensions

We study the solutions of the Einstein equations in (d+2)-dimensions, describing parallel p-branes (p=d-1) in a space with two transverse dimensions of positive gaussian curvature. These solutions generalize the solutions of Deser and Jackiw of point particle sources in (2+1)-dimensional gravity with cosmological constant. Determination of the metric is reduced to finding the roots of a simple algebraic equation. These roots also determine the nontrivial "warp factors" of the metric at the positions of the branes. We discuss the possible role of these solutions and the importance of "warp factors" in the context of the large extra dimensions scenario.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX; References and acknowledgments adde

Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking---Why and How

This theoretical review is intended to give non-theorists a flavor of the ideas driving the current efforts to experimentally find supersymmetry. We discuss the main reasons behind the expectation that supersymmetry may be "just around the corner" and may be discovered in the near future. We use simple quantum-mechanical examples to illustrate the concept---and the power---of supersymmetry, the possible ways to break supersymmetry, and the dynamical generation of small scales. We then describe how this theoretical machinery helps shape our perception of what physics beyond the electroweak scale might be.Comment: LaTeX, 29 pages, 14 ps figures. Talk given at the SLAC Experimental Semina