String Theory, Misaligned Supersymmetry, and the Supertrace Constraints

1995/03/31 by Keith R. Dienes, Moshe Moshe, Robert C. Myers
Physics and Astronomy · #hep-ph #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.74.4767

published as Phys.Rev.Lett. 74 (1995) 4767-4770 · 8 pages, standard LaTeX, 1 figure (Encapsulated PostScript), version published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 74 (1995) 4767

arxiv created 1995/10/05 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30

Abstract

We demonstrate that string consistency in four spacetime dimensions leads to a spectrum of string states which satisfies the supertrace constraints Str(M⁰)=0 and Str(M²)=Λat tree level, where Λis the one-loop string cosmological constant. This result holds for a large class of string theories, including critical heterotic strings. For strings lacking spacetime supersymmetry, these supertrace constraints will be satisfied as a consequence of a hidden ``misaligned supersymmetry'' in the string spectrum. These results thus severely constrain the possible supersymmetry-breaking scenarios in string theory, and suggest a new intrinsically stringy mechanism whereby such supertrace constraints may be satisfied without phenomenologically unacceptable consequences.

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