SuperHiggs Mechanism in String Theory

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the superHiggs mechanism within heterotic string theory by activating a background NS-NS field, leading to spontaneous supersymmetry breaking and mass generation for gravitini and dilatini.

Contribution

It explicitly constructs the superHiggs effect in string theory through background field activation and BRST deformation, illustrating spontaneous supersymmetry breaking.

Findings

Spontaneous breaking of spacetime supersymmetry via NS-NS background.

Massive gravitini and dilatini acquire mass by absorbing Goldstone fermions.

Consistent deformation of BRST operator maintains superconformal invariance.

Abstract

We exhibit the superHiggs effect in heterotic string theory by turning on a background NS-NS field and deforming the BRST operator consistent with superconformal invariance. The NS-NS field spontaneously breaks spacetime supersymmetry. We show how the gravitini and the physical dilatini gain mass by eating the would-be Goldstone fermions.