Abelian field-strength chiral projection Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-14
For an Abelian vector superfield, the chiral field-strength superfield is . Three barred supersymmetric covariant derivatives vanish, proving . This is a chiral spinor superfield with a gaugino as its lowest component. Phase and component signs depend on the stated Wess-Zumino gauge convention; the reality of alone does not fix those phase conventions.
In flat four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetry, let , contracting the two spinor indices with the antisymmetric epsilon invariant tensor. The supercovariant derivative algebra with left derivatives has . There are only two dotted components, so every product of three barred derivatives repeats one component and vanishes. Therefore for any superfield : is a chiral superfield. This map is called chiral projection, although is not an idempotent projector.
If is a chiral superfield, holomorphic closure of chiral superfields also makes chiral. Thus an equation is consistent with the chiral constraint: applying any gives zero on both sides. Both sides are scalar superfields, and the squared supersymmetric covariant derivative commutes with the supercharges, so the equation is Lorentz invariant and supersymmetry covariant.
A supersymmetry transformation mixes the bosonic and odd coordinates of superspace. A bare derivative with respect to an odd coordinate therefore acquires a spacetime-derivative term under the coordinate Jacobian and is not a covariant spinor superfield. Supersymmetric covariant derivatives add terms linear in the other odd coordinate; their graded anticommutation with the supercharges makes their application to a scalar superfield transform covariantly.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 iii Paper 53 5 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
A scalar superfield transformation is a pullback under a supertranslation. Since that transformation mixes and , an odd-coordinate derivative acquires an extra spacetime-derivative term under the coordinate Jacobian. It therefore does not transform as a spinor superfield merely by differentiating the scalar transformation law. This is partial derivatives and superfield covariance.
For explicit signs, split the Majorana spinor coordinates into and use left Grassmann derivatives. Choose the differential generatorsFor example, , which is nonzero. Commuting the even supersymmetry variation through consequently gives the unwanted translation term.
Replace the ordinary odd-coordinate derivatives by the supersymmetric covariant derivativesThe graded product rule cancels the mixed coordinate/derivative terms, giving . Thus and transform as spinor superfields. Their own mixed algebra is , with equal-chirality anticommutators zero. This covariant differentiation is also what makes a chiral superfield constraint supersymmetry invariant. Negating every barred derivative is another convention, but changes the displayed mixed-algebra sign.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2009 iii Paper 42 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use left Grassmann derivatives and define the supersymmetric covariant derivatives . Multiplication in the indicated order gives exactly the printed differential operator:Thus the equation is in two-dimensional N=(1,1) superspace.
Under a Lorentz boost, take and . The derivatives have boost weights , and have weights . Consequently has weight zero, and is a Lorentz scalar. Both and the ordinary function are scalar superfields, so the equation is Lorentz invariant.
For supersymmetry, and anticommutation of distinct odd coordinates giveMoving either supercharge through the two odd derivatives introduces two minus signs, hence . If , with odd constant parameters, the chain rule for an even scalar superfield givesTherefore a solution is mapped to a solution, proving supersymmetry invariance.
To compute the supersymmetric Liouville equation, order the odd coordinates as and anticommute the fermionic component fields with both coordinates. In particular, . Direct application of the operator givesLet . Only the two products of its degree-one terms survive in ; for example, . Hence and . The exponential function expands exactly asEquating the constant terms fixes the auxiliary field, . The linear and quadratic terms then give the requested component field equations of motion:The signs here follow from the printed operator, the printed component expansion, and left Grassmann derivatives; no convention change has been made in eliminating the auxiliary field.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2009 iii Paper 42 4 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The barred notation denotes the antichiral supersymmetric covariant derivative. Write barred spinor indices as dotted indices, and use the stated plus-sign convention with left Grassmann derivatives:Their supercovariant derivative algebra with left derivatives gives and . The constraint defines a chiral superfield, also called an L-superfield.
To solve the constraint, put . For a left Grassmann derivative, . Therefore and , so becomes ordinary differentiation with respect to at fixed . Its general solution is the chiral-superfield component expansionHere is a complex scalar, a Weyl spinor, and a complex auxiliary field. Before imposing field equations of motion this is four real bosonic and four real fermionic components. Chirality means independence of at fixed , rather than at fixed . The differential supercharges and anticommute with both covariant derivatives, so a supersymmetry transformation preserves the chiral constraint.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 iii Paper 40 3 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The chiral superfield condition is for both dotted components. Use left Grassmann derivatives with the displayed supersymmetric covariant derivatives. The odd product rule gives , soThe chirality constraint therefore says that is independent of at fixed . The Grassmann algebra has only two independent components, so every cubic product of them vanishes. Its general even scalar superfield consequently has a scalar coefficient, a term linear in with a Weyl spinor coefficient, and one quadratic term. Choosing the conventional component normalization gives the chiral-superfield component expansionHere is a complex scalar field, an odd Weyl spinor and a complex nonpropagating auxiliary field. Conversely this expansion is annihilated by because and are. At fixed ordinary , the same result is the terminating translation ; this retains the printed contraction convention without changing the order in the barred square.
For a local function of scalar superfields, initially allow . The chain rule givesFor arbitrary chiral component fields the last factor is not constrained to vanish, so chirality requires . Thus on its domain, with no generic conjugate-field dependence. Its ordinary holomorphic derivatives must exist where its nilpotent expansion is evaluated; a pole or branch point there does not define a regular local superfield. Using gives the explicit holomorphic closure of chiral superfields:All three component coefficients are evaluated at . For several chiral superfields, replace by and by . This requirement concerns a function that is to be chiral for arbitrary field configurations; a special constant field configuration does not impose the same functional constraint.
The ungauged two-derivative supersymmetric action is obtained from a real Kähler potential and a holomorphic superpotential:The first integral is a D-term; the second is an F-term. The Kähler metric must be positive for positive scalar kinetic energy. The auxiliary part is , so eliminating it gives the scalar potential in the bosonic sector.
For the single-field Wess–Zumino model, take the canonical Kähler potential and spacetime signature . Component superspace integration givesSince and , the auxiliary equation is . Completing its square leaves in the Lagrangian. Hence the tree-level effective potential isFor nonzero , its two zero-energy supersymmetric vacua are and . The potential is nonnegative because it is an absolute square.
The Trilinear scalar vertices in the Wess–Zumino model come fromWith all field legs incoming, expanding and differentiating each cubic monomial givesThe factor counts the two identical legs; there is no in to cancel it. A factor enforcing four-momentum conservation is implicit. These labels specify fields in an all-incoming Feynman rule; physical outgoing particles are assigned by crossing. There are no or scalar vertices from this on-shell potential.
Equivalently, if are real and with canonically normalized real scalars , then . Differentiation gives , with vanishing and vertices. This is the same pair of complex-field interactions in a real basis.
For the non-renormalization argument, promote to nondynamical chiral spurions. Define one ordinary and one R-symmetry by the Wess–Zumino spurion charge assignment:
Table 1.
Ordinary and R-symmetry spurion charges
. | Quantity | Ordinary charge | R-charge |
|---|---|---|
Each superpotential term is neutral under the ordinary symmetry. Under the R-symmetry, both terms have charge two, which is canceled by the charge of . In particular, is R-neutral as required. The scalar, spinor and auxiliary components of have R-charges . These are formal symmetries when the couplings transform as spurions; replacing them by fixed nonzero numbers need not leave an actual continuous field symmetry.
A local loop-corrected Wilsonian effective action superpotential must be holomorphic in all three chiral variables and obey the same charges. The ratio is neutral under both symmetries, while has the required charges and mass dimension three. Therefore, on a patch with , the most general symmetry-allowed form iswith holomorphic on its domain. This form follows directly for a monomial : ordinary charge gives and R-charge gives , hence , . Each allowed monomial is and already has mass dimension three. Charge symmetry alone leaves undetermined.
To constrain perturbative loops, retain the original elementary chiral superfield and a nonzero infrared cutoff, rather than integrating out the entire field. A regular perturbative superpotential can be expanded about , so andTerms with have poles at . They are excluded by regularity of the local Wilsonian coefficients in the massless limit with the infrared cutoff fixed. At the theory is Gaussian, so the quadratic coefficient remains . The term linear in is the single original cubic vertex: a diagram with three external fields and only that one interaction vertex has no internal loop. Holomorphy disallows coefficients involving or , so it cannot conceal the usual nonholomorphic wave-function corrections in . Matching the one-vertex term gives . Thus the holomorphy argument for superpotential non-renormalization givesThe infrared qualification matters: a singular one-particle-irreducible expression or the action after eliminating an entire massive multiplet is not the same local Wilsonian effective action for the retained field.
Consequently the holomorphic superpotential and its parameters m and g receive no perturbative vertex renormalization. The Kähler potential does undergo wave-function renormalization. If its quadratic term is , then canonical normalization gives andThese canonically normalized running couplings can therefore be renormalized despite the non-renormalization theorem for the holomorphic superpotential. Loop corrections can also change the effective scalar potential through the corrected Kähler metric. The distinction between holomorphic coefficients and canonically normalized couplings is essential to answering the renormalization question.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 43 2 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Introduce and retain the same Grassmann variables. The supersymmetric derivatives in chiral coordinates follow from the left Grassmann derivative chain rule. Differentiating givesThe minus sign in the second relation comes from moving the odd Grassmann derivative past . Hence, as operators on a superfield expressed in ,Substitution into the two supersymmetric covariant derivatives adds the two unbarred spacetime terms and cancels the two barred ones:These operator equalities prove both requested actions on . In particular, a chiral superfield becomes independent of at fixed . The TeX aid corrupts the second formula by replacing its ordinary barred derivative with a covariant one; the original PDF has the ordinary .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 43 2 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
The Abelian field-strength chiral projection is linear in the vector superfield, so isolate the terms containing the gaugino and the auxiliary field. Replacing by leaves these terms unchanged: the shift of the gaugino term would contain three barred Grassmann variables, and the shift of the term would contain three of each chirality, hence both vanish. Their contribution is thereforeThe part of the supersymmetric covariant derivative also adds a third barred factor, so it vanishes on these two terms. The ordinary left Grassmann derivative, with , givesAt fixed , and . Thus the chiral field-strength superfield hasThe remaining components come from the other independent terms in the vector superfield; linearity ensures they cannot alter the two coefficients just calculated. This proves the requested components without computing the omitted terms. The gaugino phase and the sign of the vector component are those in the printed Wess-Zumino gauge expansion.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 43 2 e Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
is a fermionic chiral spinor superfield. Its chirality follows directly from the Abelian field-strength chiral projection:There are only two independent barred supersymmetric covariant derivatives, and their equal-chirality anticommutators vanish. Every product of three barred derivatives therefore vanishes. Equivalently, the previous calculation has no independent barred Grassmann variable at fixed . The free undotted index makes this a chiral spinor superfield, rather than a scalar chiral superfield; its lowest component is the odd gaugino .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 48 2 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
A four-dimensional chiral superfield is a complex scalar superfield satisfyingThe supersymmetric covariant derivatives anticommute with the supercharges, so the constraint is preserved by supersymmetry. Use left Grassmann derivatives and the printed convention . The conjugate antichiral superfield satisfies .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 iii Paper 307 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
All derivatives below are left Grassmann derivatives. Decompose the supersymmetric covariant derivatives into odd piecesWhen these operators act on an arbitrary superfield, the graded Leibniz rule givesThe anticommutator of the two pure Grassmann derivatives vanishes. Also : the spacetime derivatives commute, while the and coefficients anticommute. Adding these terms proves the supercovariant derivative algebra with left derivatives,For two unbarred derivatives, neither differentiates the coefficient of the other operator. Their coefficient products anticommute, so . The same argument with barred and unbarred coordinates exchanged gives . These signs follow the derivatives printed in this paper; a convention replacing by reverses the mixed sign as well.
Set . Left differentiation givesThe chain rule therefore makes simply at fixed . The chiral superfield constraint means that is independent of in these coordinates. Since there are only two independent entries of , its Grassmann algebra expansion terminates at degree two. Naming the coefficients gives the chiral-superfield component expansionHere is a complex scalar field, a Weyl spinor, and a nonpropagating auxiliary field; the is their conventional normalization.
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 2025 iii Paper 307 1 iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
A chiral superfield is annihilated by the antichiral supersymmetric covariant derivative:Equivalently, it depends on with , and has the finite expansion .
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.
