R-symmetry breaking, runaway directions and global symmetries in O'Raifeartaigh models

TL;DR

This paper analyzes O'Raifeartaigh models with general R-charge assignments, highlighting the presence of runaway directions linked to R-symmetry and demonstrating R-symmetry breaking in a metastable vacuum within a model with U(N) symmetry.

Contribution

It extends the understanding of R-symmetry breaking and runaway directions in generalized O'Raifeartaigh models, including a specific U(N) symmetric case.

Findings

Most models have runaway directions related to R-symmetry.

R-symmetry is spontaneously broken in a metastable vacuum in the U(N) model.

The study identifies parameter ranges where R-symmetry breaking occurs.

Abstract

We discuss O'Raifeartaigh models with general R-charge assignments, introduced by Shih to break R-symmetry spontaneously. We argue that most of these models have runaway directions related to the R-symmetry. In addition, we study the simplest model with a U(N) global symmetry and show that in a range of parameters R-symmetry is spontaneously broken in a metastable vacuum.