String theory, misaligned supersymmetry, and the supertrace constraints

Feb, 1995
9 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.Lett. 74 (1995) 4767-4770
e-Print:
Report number:
  • IASSNS-HEP-95-12

Citations per year

1995200220092016202302468
Abstract: (DESY)
We demonstrate that string consistency in four spacetime dimensions leads to a spectrum of string states which satisfies the supertrace constraints Str(M~0)=0 and Str(M~2)=\Lambda at tree level, where \Lambda is 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.
  • string model
  • supersymmetry
  • phase space
  • constraint
  • cosmological constant