Euler theorem for homogeneous functions Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
Let be a differentiable function on an open domain stable under positive rescaling, with for . The chain rule differentiates this homogeneous function identity at to giveIf is twice differentiable, differentiating once more gives . In degree one its Hessian matrix therefore annihilates the radial vector . This is the identity used in the no-scale identity from degree-one homogeneity. For an extensive quantity, the degree-one formula also supplies the thermodynamic identity behind the Gibbs-Duhem equation.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 iii Paper 307 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The exponent in the original PDF is with real , not the produced by the local TeX. Use that authoritative expression. PutThe domain conditions ensure a real Kähler potential and positive Kähler metric. There are no gauge multiplets specified, so the scalar potential is the supergravity F-term potentialThe Kähler covariant derivative of a superpotential and metric entries areState the inverse with its indices explicitly, since transposing the off-diagonal complex entries would change the answer:Here , so the displayed upper-index array is the transpose of the ordinary matrix inverse of the displayed lower-index array.
Substitution shows that the cross terms involving cancel and that the sector givesThe first term cancels the universal negative term. Thus the no-scale supergravity potential isThis positivity is an algebraic cancellation, not an assumption that the individual Kähler derivatives vanish.
Choose the supergravity auxiliary field convention . Direct multiplication givesA conventional common phase or overall sign on the auxiliary fields changes none of the vanishing conditions. A supersymmetric configuration requires every to vanish. First implies , then implies , and implies . Since , at a finite point of the physical domain this is possible only when , followed by . Consequently If , every finite configuration has a nonzero auxiliary field, so any finite vacuum breaks supersymmetry. The printed request cannot hold for arbitrary parameters without this exception: , is a zero-energy supersymmetric family with both and unfixed.
With the stipulated vanishing vacuum expectation value of , define . The potential reduces to . Its derivative along is , so a finite stationary point must have . Such a point is a global minimum of the full nonnegative potential, since both squares vanish at . The finite zero-energy vacuum for a single exponential superpotential therefore satisfiesFor nonzero , write and . The modulus and phase conditions areThe function increases up to and then decreases to zero; its maximum is . Hence a finite minimum exists exactly whenThere is one positive solution for , two for , and one coalesced solution at the upper bound. The formal solution at is outside . At each allowed , the phase fixes modulo . Equivalently , using the real branches of the Lambert W function and retaining only .
At any of these nontrivial minima, . The auxiliary fields becomeThis is a supersymmetry breaking Minkowski minimum in which the nonzero auxiliary field belongs to . Both real components of are exact flat directions of a scalar potential at the minimum. They change the metric and auxiliary-field magnitudes but not the zero potential. Generically the two real components of are fixed. At the coalesced solution , the radial quadratic restoring term vanishes, but the leading restoring term is quartic; this is not an additional exact flat direction of a scalar potential. The matter field likewise has a positive leading quartic potential, not an exact flat direction of a scalar potential, despite its zero quadratic mass here.
The exceptional parameter cases must also be stated. If or , no finite zero-energy minimum with exists. The same holds when . Because the derivative is nonzero at any positive-energy point on , none is a finite minimum there; the energy approaches zero along the runaway . If , all physical at give supersymmetric zero-energy minima. Thus an unconditional finite minimum or unconditional breaking would be a false claim for the printed arbitrary parameters.
For the homogeneous model, assume is twice differentiable, of degree one in the real moduli , and that its Hessian matrix for is invertible on the sector considered. Differentiate :The two Euler theorem for homogeneous functions identities in the question implyMultiplying by the inverse gives , so contracting once more yieldsThis is the no-scale identity from degree-one homogeneity. It does not assert that every degree-one function gives a positive or invertible metric: for example has a rank-one Kähler Hessian, and its inverse is undefined. The inverse hypothesis is necessary.
For complex moduli with , the same derivatives are the mixed Kähler metric; choosing real parts with a factor of two only introduces factors that cancel in the contraction. If is independent of these moduli, , and their contribution is . It cancels the universal , leaving no scalar potential from this isolated no-scale sector. Other chiral sectors can still contribute positive terms. For this conclusion in a larger theory, the displayed metric must be the appropriate decoupled no-scale block, or the full inverse metric must itself satisfy the corresponding identity; arbitrary mixed additions to do not inherit the cancellation automatically.