Theta-parity in supersymmetry

TL;DR

This paper explores a symmetry in N=1 supersymmetric theories related to fermionic coordinate sign changes, showing how R-parity and other conservation laws can be understood as specific implementations of this symmetry.

Contribution

It demonstrates that R-parity and related conservation laws in supersymmetry can be derived from a fundamental fermionic coordinate sign change symmetry.

Findings

R-parity is a special case of fermionic coordinate sign symmetry

Other implementations relate to lepton and baryon number parities

Provides a unified view of discrete symmetries in supersymmetry

Abstract

We consider invariance of the action of N=1 supersymmetric theories under the change of sign of the fermionic co-ordinate in superspace. We show that the R-parity can be realized as a special implementation of this symmetry. Other implementations in the supersymmetric extension of the standard model can be related to lepton number and baryon number parities.