Local supersymmetry without SUSY partners

TL;DR

This paper constructs a novel gauge theory of local supersymmetry that does not include superpartners, gravitinos, or require the metric as a fundamental field, differing significantly from standard supergravity models.

Contribution

It introduces a supersymmetric gauge theory where the metric is invariant under supersymmetry, with no superpartners or gravitino, and explores its formulation in various dimensions.

Findings

The metric is invariant under supersymmetry and not fundamental.

No superpartners or gravitino are present in the theory.

In 4D, the Lagrangian includes a NJL term and depends on a single parameter.

Abstract

A gauge theory for a superalgebra that includes an internal gauge (G) and local Lorentz algebras, and that could describe the low energy particle phenomenology is constructed. These two symmetries are connected by fermionic supercharges. The system includes an internal gauge connection 1-form $A$, a spin-1/2 Dirac spinor $\psi$, the Lorentz connection $\omega$, and the vielbein $e$. The connection one-form is in the adjoint representation of G, while $\psi$ is in the fundamental. In contrast to standard supergravity, the metric is not a fundamental field and is in the center of the superalgebra: it is not only invariant under the internal gauge group and under Lorentz transformations, but is also invariant under supersymmetry. The features of this theory that mark the difference with standard supersymmetry are: A) The number of fermionic and bosonic states is not necessarily the same; B) There are no superpartners with equal mass, "bosoninos", sleptons and squarks are absent; C) Although this supersymmetry originates in a local gauge theory and gravity is included, there is no gravitino; D) Fermions acquire mass from their coupling to the background or from self-couplings, while bosons remain massless. In odd dimensions, the Chern-Simons form provides an action that is quasi-invariant under the entire superalgebra. In even dimensions, the Yang-Mills form $ < F *F>$ is the only natural option, and the symmetry breaks down to [G x SO(1,D-1)]. In 4D, the construction follows the Townsend - Mac Dowell-Mansouri approach. Due to the absence of osp(4|2)-invariant traces in four dimensions, the resulting Lagrangian is only invariant under [U(1) x SO(3,1)], and includes a Nambu--Jona-Lasinio term. In this case, the Lagrangian depends on a single dimensionful parameter that fixes Newton's constant, the cosmological constant and the NJL coupling.