R-symmetry and Supersymmetry Breaking at Finite Temperature

TL;DR

This paper investigates how R-symmetry and supersymmetry break spontaneously at finite temperature in a simple model, revealing a second order phase transition and a thermodynamically favored metastable vacuum persisting down to zero temperature.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of thermal effects on R-symmetry breaking in a specific supersymmetric model, including the calculation of the finite temperature effective potential.

Findings

R-symmetry breaking occurs via a second order phase transition.

The metastable supersymmetry breaking vacuum is favored at high temperatures.

The vacuum remains trapped as temperature decreases to zero.

Abstract

We analyze the spontaneous $U(1)_R$ symmetry breaking at finite temperature for the simple O'Raifeartaigh-type model introduced in [1] in connection with spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. We calculate the finite temperature effective potential (free energy) to one loop order and study the thermal evolution of the model. We find that the R-symmetry breaking occurs through a second order phase transition. Its associated meta-stable supersymmetry breaking vacuum is thermodynamically favored at high temperatures and the model remains trapped in this state by a potential barrier, as the temperature lowers all the way until T=0.