Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 307 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Use the canonical Kähler potential and normalize superspace integration by . The superspace Lagrangian density isThe full superspace integration produces a D-term, while the chiral superfield integral produces an F-term. Work in chiral coordinates for the chiral-superfield component expansion, so the omitted spacetime-derivative terms do not enter the extraction of .
Set . A Taylor expansion of the superpotential givesHigher terms vanish because there are only two Grassmann variables . With and , their anticommutation gives . ThusThe canonical Kähler potential contributes . Consequently the part of the Lagrangian density containing the auxiliary field isThe fermion terms coming from the superpotential areThe Weyl spinor kinetic term and the complex scalar field kinetic term are canonical because .
Treat and as independent variables in their algebraic Euler-Lagrange equations. They giveEquivalently,After eliminating the auxiliary field, the Lagrangian density contains , so the F-term scalar potential isIt is nonnegative for arbitrary complex , since it is a modulus squared. A supersymmetric vacuum satisfies F-flatness, so its zeros are:If and these coincide; if and only the origin remains; if every constant is a supersymmetric vacuum.
To compare masses, expand around a supersymmetric vacuum satisfying , writing . With ,Writing gives the scalar field mass term ; the Weyl spinor has physical mass . Therefore the supersymmetric mass degeneracy isIn particular, at the boson and fermion masses are both . At the second supersymmetric vacuum the sign of reverses, but the physical mass is again . Equality here concerns fluctuations about a supersymmetric vacuum, not arbitrary backgrounds with .
In the convention and , the same superpotential coefficient gives and . The supersymmetric relation between quartic and Yukawa couplings is thereforeIf instead the Yukawa interaction is written , then and the same physical relation is . The numerical factor depends on the definition of the Yukawa coupling.
The perturbative non-renormalization theorem applies to the local holomorphic superpotential in the Wilsonian effective action, using regularization in quantum field theory that preserves supersymmetry. There are two complementary ways to see why it applies here.
First, in supergraph calculations in perturbative quantum field theory, the algebra of supersymmetric covariant derivatives puts any candidate local correction to the superpotential into a full superspace integration. It therefore corrects a D-term, such as the Kähler potential, rather than a local chiral F-term. Turning such a contribution into an apparent chiral integral would require nonlocal inverse spacetime derivatives, schematically . These are excluded from the local Wilsonian effective action with a fixed nonzero momentum cutoff. This gives the diagrammatic non-renormalization theorem.
Second, the holomorphy argument for superpotential non-renormalization treats and as background chiral spurions, so the Wilsonian effective action superpotential is a holomorphic function of , with no dependence on or . Assign an ordinary spurion charge and an R-charge as follows:The superpotential has ordinary charge zero and R-charge two, since has R-charge minus two. A prospective holomorphic monomial must therefore satisfyFor perturbative corrections, regularity at and requires nonnegative powers of the couplings. Regularity in is justified by keeping a nonzero Wilsonian momentum cutoff and retaining as a light field. Hence only and survive: the existing and structures. The quadratic coefficient is fixed by the free theory at , where there are no interaction loops. The cubic coefficient is fixed at first order in , where a connected three-field interaction has only its tree-level Feynman diagram; loop corrections would require further powers of the interaction couplings, which the holomorphy argument for superpotential non-renormalization charge constraints forbid. ThusA field-independent constant is physically irrelevant in this rigid model; the spurion charges would in any case require , which is not regular at .
The Kähler potential can still receive wave-function renormalization. For example, gives the canonical field normalization , and consequentlyThese canonically normalized parameters can run with the renormalization scale; this does not contradict the holomorphic non-renormalization theorem. When massless modes are included in the full quantum effective action, nonlocal terms associated with infrared divergences can also imitate an F-term. Distinguishing that action from the local Wilsonian effective action is part of the theorem's convention.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 307 1 Solution 2026-10-03
For the stated two-dimensional N=(2,2) supersymmetry conventions, define the supersymmetric covariant derivativesThe terms in which a Grassmann derivative hits the explicit Grassmann coordinate cancel the spacetime-derivative terms, while derivatives involving different signs act on independent coordinates. Therefore
The twisted chiral superfield constraints are solved by the twisted chiral coordinatesThe superfield depends only on and has the finite Grassmann variable expansionwhere every component on the right is evaluated at ; numerical factors may be absorbed into the component definitions.
For one chiral superfield and one twisted chiral superfield , the most general local two-derivative supersymmetric action isHere is real, is a holomorphic superpotential, and is a holomorphic twisted superpotential. A full superspace integral, a chiral F-term, and a twisted F-term each vary by a spacetime or Berezin total derivative, so all three are supersymmetric.
Choose the Vector R-symmetry and Axial R-symmetry conventionswith conjugate coordinates transforming oppositely, and assign compatible charges to and . The D-term is invariant when is neutral, up to a generalized Kähler transformation. The chiral measure has vector R-charge and axial charge zero, whereas the twisted chiral measure has axial R-charge and vector charge zero. Hence classical invariance requirestogether with neutrality of . Equivalently, and must be quasi-homogeneous with these charges; absent suitable charge assignments, the corresponding superpotential breaks that R-symmetry.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 307 2 a Solution 2026-10-03
The first-order kinetic term makes and canonically conjugate Grassmann variables. Canonical quantization gives the canonical anticommutation relations
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2022 iii Paper 307 1 Solution 2026-09-28
Treating derivatives with respect to the Grassmann variables as graded derivatives and using givesThe terms in and cancel pairwise, so both vanish.
A chiral superfield obeys , while an antichiral superfield obeys . Since for , the general chiral expansion isIn the original coordinates this iswith signs following the conventions of the question.
A holomorphic function is chiral. Its highest component transforms into a spacetime divergence, so the F-term actionis supersymmetric even though it integrates over only chiral half of superspace.
The non-renormalization theorem says that perturbative loop corrections are full-superspace D-terms and cannot generate a new local superpotential. Holomorphy and spurion symmetries therefore preserveThe Kähler potential is renormalized, however. If its kinetic term is , canonical normalization givesup to scheme and scale conventions. Thus superpotential parameters are holomorphic invariants while physical masses and couplings still run through wave-function renormalization.
Pseudoclassical spinning particle 2026-10-07
A pseudoclassical spinning particle supplements ordinary position and momentum by odd Grassmann variables. An even multiplier imposes and an odd multiplier imposes . The odd symplectic term gives . Quantization represents these variables by a Clifford algebra, producing a spinor wavefunction.
Pure-scalar truncation of a superfield Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-14
A function is an allowed special configuration of an unconstrained superfield. The subspace where all other components remain zero is not invariant: produces components depending on Grassmann variables whenever is nonconstant. Thus an isolated spacetime scalar field is not closed under supersymmetry. A constant gauge-singlet value is a trivial invariant exception.
For an even-dimensional antisymmetric matrix , put and , with independent Grassmann variables . Anticommutation cancels the mixed terms, giving . The constant Grassmann change-of-variables formula changes only the normalization. The two real Pfaffians multiply to , agreeing with the complex Grassmann Gaussian integral. In odd dimension and both top-degree integrals vanish.
Square of a Weyl spinor bilinear 2026-10-07
For four independent odd Grassmann variables , , whereas . This proves the displayed two-component identity and fixes its sign. It is not valid with the same interpretation for commuting spinors, whose self-contractions vanish.
Superspace integration Created 2026-10-05 Updated 2026-10-06
Superspace integration uses the Berezin integral over Grassmann variables. A chiral integral extracts an F-term, while a full integral extracts a D-term.
Two-dimensional N=(1,1) superspace 2026-10-14
In light-cone coordinates on two-dimensional Minkowski spacetime, add two real odd Grassmann variables . With left Grassmann derivatives, the supercharges and supersymmetric covariant derivatives can be represented asThe identity gives , , , and for every . A Lorentz boost acts as , . Thus have boost weights , and is a Lorentz scalar. Since it commutes with both supercharges, an equation for an even scalar superfield is Lorentz invariant and supersymmetry covariant.
Weyl spinor bilinear exchange identity 2026-10-07
Zero-dimensional supersymmetric field theory 2026-10-06
A zero-dimensional model is a finite-dimensional integral with bosonic and Grassmann variables, rather than a field depending on spacetime. Odd graded derivations preserve its action and integration measure. Such models expose supersymmetric Ward identities and supersymmetric localization without spacetime dynamics.