Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2014/iii/paper-43/3/d/solution

For the stable branch found above, and . Hence the vacuum expectation value is
in the stated Planck units. To verify that it is a vacuum rather than merely a zero-energy stationary point, evaluate the Hessian matrix. At either zero-energy stationary branch,
Because and its first derivatives vanish there, the Hessian matrix of is just times this Hessian matrix. For , both eigenvalues are positive. This proves a strict local minimum in both real scalar directions. For , , so the alternative , is a saddle point and is excluded from the stable zero-energy Polonyi vacuum.
There is also a useful global check. Set on the stable branch. Directly completing squares gives
Both remaining coefficients are positive. Thus everywhere, with equality only at . The positive exponential prefactor proves that this is the unique global minimum, not just a metastable vacuum.
Finally, at the stable vacuum and . Its supergravity auxiliary field has
Thus the Minkowski vacuum breaks supersymmetry, even though its cosmological constant vanishes. If , the potential is flat and the displayed tuned parameter and scalar value are not selected.

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