A search for exact superstring vacua

We investigate $2d$ sigma-models with a $2+N$ dimensional Minkowski signature target space metric and Killing symmetry, specifically supersymmetrized, and see under which conditions they might lead to corresponding exact string vacua. It appears that the issue relies heavily on the properties of the vector $M_{\mu}$, a reparametrization term, which needs to possess a definite form for the Weyl invariance to be satisfied. We give, in the $n = 1$ supersymmetric case, two non-renormalization theorems from which we can relate the $u$ component of $M_{\mu}$ to the $\beta^G_{uu}$ function. We work out this $(u,u)$ component of the $\beta^G$ function and find a non-vanishing contribution at four loops. Therefore, it turns out that at order $\alpha^{\prime 4}$, there are in general non-vanishing contributions to $M_u$ that prevent us from deducing superstring vacua in closed form.Comment: 9 pages, latex, CERN-TH.6946/9

Explicit supertring vacua in a background of gravitational waves and dilaton

We present an explicit solution of superstring effective equations, represented by gravitational waves and dilaton backgrounds. Particular solutions will be examined in a forthcoming note.Comment: 10 pages, latex, CERN-TH.7373/9

A New Supersensitive Flame Detector and its Use for Early Forest Fire Detection

A new flame detector, three orders of magnitude more powerful than the existing ones, is presented. This detector needs to be mass-produced for its use in order to be incorporated in an early forest fire detection system. A project able to implement its use to overcome the forest fire emergency is described

No-scale supergravity confronts LEP diphoton events

We examine the possibility that some anomalous acoplanar diphoton events observed at LEP may be consistent with the predictions of our previously proposed one-parameter no-scale supergravity model with a light gravitino, via the process e^+e^- -> chi chi -> gamma gamma+E_miss. We find that one such event may indeed be consistent with the model predictions for m_chi \approx (60-70) GeV. This region of parameter space is also consistent with the selectron and chargino interpretations of the CDF ee gamma gamma + E_T,miss event.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX, 4 figures (included). Updated to include full LEP161 dat

Unexpected features of e+e-->ppbar and e+e-->lambda-lambdabar cross sections near threshold

Unexpected features of the BaBar data on e+e- in baryon-antibaryon cross sections are discussed. These data have been collected, with unprecedented accuracy, by means of the initial state radiation technique, which is particularly suitable in giving good acceptance and energy resolution at threshold. A striking feature observed in the BaBar data is the non-vanishing cross section at threshold for all these processes. This is the expectation due to the Coulomb enhancement factor acting on a charged fermion pair. In the case of e+e- in proton-antiproton it is found that Coulomb final state interactions largely dominate the cross section and the form factor is |G^p(4M^2_p)|~1, which could be a general feature for baryons. In the case of neutral baryons an interpretation of the non-vanishing cross section at threshold is suggested, based on quark electromagnetic interaction and taking into account the asymmetry between attractive and repulsive Coulomb factors. Besides strange baryon cross sections are compared to U-spin invariance predictions.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure

SU(5)xU(1): a string paradigm of a TOE and its experimental consequences

We present a string-inspired/derived supergravity model based on the flipped $SU(5)\times U(1)$ structure supplemented by a minimal set of additional matter representations such that unification occurs at the string scale (\sim10^{18}\GeV). This model is complemented by two string supersymmetry breaking scenaria: the $SU(N,1)$ no-scale supergravity model and a dilaton-induced supersymmetry breaking scenario. Both imply universal soft supersymmetry breaking parameters: $m_0=0, A=0$ and m_0=\coeff{1}{\sqrt{3}}m_{1/2}, A=-m_{1/2} respectively. In either case the models depend on only three parameters: $m_t$, $\tan\beta$, and $m_{\tilde g}$. We present a comparative study of the sparticle and Higgs spectra of both models and conclude that even though both can be partially probed at the Tevatron, LEPII, and HERA, a larger fraction of the parameter space of the no-scale model is actually accessible. In both cases there is a more constrained version which allows to determine $\tan\beta$ in terms of $m_t,m_{\tilde g}$. In the strict no-scale case we find that the value of $m_t$ determines the sign of $\mu$ (\mu>0:\,m_t\lsim135\GeV, \mu<0:\,m_t\gsim140\GeV) and whether the lightest Higgs boson mass is above or below 100\GeV. In the more constrained version of the dilaton scenario, $\tan\beta\approx1.4-1.6$ and m_t\lsim155\GeV, 61\GeV\lsim m_h\lsim91\GeV follow. Thus, continuing Tevatron top-quark searches and LEPI,II Higgs searches could probe this restricted scenario completely.Comment: CERN-TH.6926/93, CTP-TAMU-33/93, LaTeX, 33 pages, 11 embedded figures. Significant numerical correction to the dilaton scenario. Complete ps file (7943 blocks,3.33MB) available via anonymous ftp from site tamsun.tamu.edu in directory incoming, filename: CTP-TAMU-33-93.p

The SuperWorlds of SU(5) and SU(5)xU(1): A Critical Assessment and Overview

We present an overview of the simplest supergravity models which enforce radiative breaking of the electroweak symmetry, namely the minimal $SU(5)$ supergravity model and the class of string-inspired/derived supergravity models based on the flipped $SU(5)\times U(1)$ structure supplemented by a minimal set of additional matter representations such that unification occurs at the string scale (\sim10^{18}\GeV). These models can be fully parametrized in terms of the top-quark mass, the ratio $\tan\beta=v_2/v_1$, and three supersymmetry breaking parameters ($m_{1/2},m_0,A$). The latter are chosen in the minimal $SU(5)$ model such that the stringent constraints from proton decay and cosmology are satisfied. In the flipped $SU(5)$ case we consider two string-inspired supersymmetry breaking scenaria: $SU(N,1)$ no-scale supergravity and a dilaton-induced supersymmetry breaking scenario. Both imply universal soft supersymmetry breaking parameters: $m_0=A=0$ and m_0=\coeff{1}{\sqrt{3}}m_{1/2}, A=-m_{1/2} respectively. We present a comparative study of the sparticle and Higgs spectra of both flipped $SU(5)$ models and the minimal $SU(5)$ model and conclude that all can be partially probed at the Tevatron and LEPII (and the flipped models at HERA too). In both flipped $SU(5)$ cases there is a more constrained version which allows to determine $\tan\beta$ in terms of $m_t,m_{\tilde g}$ and which leads to much sharper and readily accessible experimental predictions. We also discuss the prospects for indirect experimental detection: a non-trivial fraction of the parameter space of the flipped $SU(5)$ models is in conflict with the present experimental allowed range for the $b\to s\gamma$ rare decay mode, and the one-loop electroweak radiative corrections imply the 90\% CL upper boundComment: CERN-TH.6934/93, CTP-TAMU-34/93, LaTeX, 58 pages, 20 embedded figures. Complete ps file (~12000 blocks, 5.24MB) available via anonymous ftp from site tamsun.tamu.edu in directory incoming, filename: CTP-TAMU-34-93.p

The strongest experimental constraints on SU(5)xU(1) supergravity models

We consider a class of well motivated string-inspired flipped $SU(5)$ supergravity models which include four supersymmetry breaking scenarios: no-scale, strict no-scale, dilaton, and special dilaton, such that only three parameters are needed to describe all new phenomena $(m_t,\tan\beta,m_{\tilde g})$. We show that the LEP precise measurements of the electroweak parameters in the form of the $\epsilon_1$ variable, and the CLEOII allowed range for \bsg are at present the most important experimental constraints on this class of models. For m_t\gsim155\,(165)\GeV, the $\epsilon_1$ constraint (at 90(95)\%CL) requires the presence of light charginos (m_{\chi^\pm_1}\lsim50-100\GeV depending on $m_t$). Since all sparticle masses are proportional to $m_{\tilde g}$, m_{\chi^\pm_1}\lsim100\GeV implies: m_{\chi^0_1}\lsim55\GeV, m_{\chi^0_2}\lsim100\GeV, m_{\tilde g}\lsim360\GeV, m_{\tilde q}\lsim350\,(365)\GeV, m_{\tilde e_R}\lsim80\,(125)\GeV, m_{\tilde e_L}\lsim120\,(155)\GeV, and m_{\tilde\nu}\lsim100\,(140)\GeV in the no-scale (dilaton) flipped $SU(5)$ supergravity model. The \bsg constraint excludes a significant fraction of the otherwise allowed region in the $(m_{\chi^\pm_1},\tan\beta)$ plane (irrespective of the magnitude of the chargino mass), while future experimental improvements will result in decisive tests of these models. In light of the $\epsilon_1$ constraint, we conclude that the outlook for chargino and selectron detection at LEPII and at HERA is quite favorable in this class of models.Comment: CTP-TAMU-40/93, Latex, 13 pages, 10 figures (available as uuencoded 0.963MB file from [email protected]

New phenomena in the standard no-scale supergravity model

We revisit the no-scale mechanism in the context of the simplest no-scale supergravity extension of the Standard Model. This model has the usual five-dimensional parameter space plus an additional parameter $\xi_{3/2}\equiv m_{3/2}/m_{1/2}$. We show how predictions of the model may be extracted over the whole parameter space. A necessary condition for the potential to be stable is ${\rm Str}{\cal M}^4>0$, which is satisfied if \bf m_{3/2}\lsim2 m_{\tilde q}. Order of magnitude calculations reveal a no-lose theorem guaranteeing interesting and potentially observable new phenomena in the neutral scalar sector of the theory which would constitute a ``smoking gun'' of the no-scale mechanism. This new phenomenology is model-independent and divides into three scenarios, depending on the ratio of the weak scale to the vev at the minimum of the no-scale direction. We also calculate the residual vacuum energy at the unification scale ($C_0\, m^4_{3/2}$), and find that in typical models one must require $C_0>10$. Such constraints should be important in the search for the correct string no-scale supergravity model. We also show how specific classes of string models fit within this framework.Comment: 11pages, LaTeX, 1 figure (included), CERN-TH.7433/9