Spontaneous R-Symmetry Breaking in O'Raifeartaigh Models

TL;DR

This paper investigates conditions for spontaneous U(1)_R symmetry breaking in O'Raifeartaigh models, demonstrating that such breaking is possible with specific R-charge assignments and is likely common in these models.

Contribution

The authors identify the necessary R-charge conditions for spontaneous U(1)_R breaking and construct a minimal model exhibiting this phenomenon with a metastable vacuum.

Findings

Spontaneous U(1)_R breaking requires a field with R-charge not equal to 0 or 2.

A minimal O'Raifeartaigh model with R-charge violation exhibits metastable R-breaking vacua.

Spontaneous R-symmetry breaking is likely generic in O'Raifeartaigh models.

Abstract

We study the question of whether spontaneous U(1)_R breaking can occur in O'Raifeartaigh-type models of spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. We show that in order for it to occur, there must be a field in the theory with R-charge different from 0 or 2. We construct the simplest O'Raifeartaigh model with this property, and we find that for a wide range of parameters, it has a meta-stable vacuum where U(1)_R is spontaneously broken. This suggests that spontaneous U(1)_R breaking actually occurs in generic O'Raifeartaigh models.