We study the presence of abelian discrete symmetries in globally consistent orientifold compactifications based on rational conformal field theory. We extend previous work [1] by allowing the discrete symmetries to be a linear combination of U(1) gauge factors of the visible as well as the hidden sector. This more general ansatz significantly increases the probability of finding a discrete symmetry in the low energy effective action. Applied to globally consistent MSSM-like Gepner constructions we find multiple models that allow for matter parity or Baryon triality.
Invited talk at the conference "Fundamental Interactions: From Symmetries to Black Holes" in honor of Francois Englert, 24 - 27 March, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Field theories with p-form gauge potentials can possess ``hidden'' symmetries leaving the field strengths invariant on-shell without being gauge symmetries on-shell. The relevance of such symmetries to supersymmetric models is discussed. They provide central charges of supersymmetry algebras, play a particular role in duality relations, and lead to peculiar interactions. A multiplet of N=2 supersymmetry in four dimensions with two hidden central charges is presented.
We review briefly a stream of ideas concerning the role of quantum groups as hidden symmetries in conformal field theories, paying particular attention to the field theoretical representations of quantum groups based on Coulomb gas methods. An extensive bibliography is also included.
We study the hidden symmetries arising in the dimensional reduction of d=5, N=2 supergravity to three dimensions. Extending previous partial results for the bosonic part, we give a derivation that includes fermionic terms, shedding light on the appearance of the local hidden symmetry SO(4) in the reduction.
We discuss hidden symmetries of three-dimensional field configurations revealed at the one-particle level by the use of pseudoclassical particle models. We argue that at the quantum field theory level, these can be naturally explained in terms of manifest symmetries of the reduced phase space Hamiltonian of the corresponding field systems.
We observe and study new non-linear global space-time symmetries of the full ghost+matter action of RNS superstring theory. We show that these surprising new symmetries are generated by the special worldsheet currents (vertex operators) of RNS superstring theory, violating the equivalence of superconformal ghost pictures. We review the questions of BRST invariance and non-triviality of picture-dependent vertex operators and show their relation to hidden space-time symmetries and hidden space-time dimensions. In particular, we relate the space-time transformations, induced by the picture-depend…
We determine the most general time-independent Noether symmetries of two-field cosmological models with rotationally-invariant scalar manifold metrics. In particular, we show that such models can have hidden symmetries, which arise if and only if the scalar manifold metric has Gaussian curvature $-3/8$, i.e. when the model is of elementary $α$-attractor type with a fixed value of the parameter $α$. In this case, we find explicitly all scalar potentials compatible with hidden Noether symmetries, thus classifying all models of this type. We also discuss some implications of the corresponding con…
We examine the precise structure of the loop algebra of `dressing' symmetries of the Principal Chiral Model, and discuss a new infinite set of abelian symmetries of the field equations which preserve a symplectic form on the space of solutions.
Hidden symmetries, described by higher order in momenta integrals of motion that generate nonlinear algebras, are explored at the level of classical and quantum mechanics in a variety of physical systems related to conformal and superconformal invariance.
A worldvolume action for membrane is considered to study the target space local symmetries. We introduce a set of generators of canonical transformations to exhibit the target space symmetries such as the general coordinate transformation and the gauge transformation of antisymmetric tensor field. Similar results are derived for type IIB string with manifestly S-duality-invariant worldsheet action.
We investigate hidden symmetries of P,T-invariant system of topologically massive U(1) gauge fields. For this purpose, we propose a pseudoclassical model giving rise to this field system at the quantum level. The model contains a parameter, which displays a quantization property at the classical and the quantum levels and demonstrates a nontrivial relationship between continuous and discrete symmetries. Analyzing the integrals of motion of the pseudoclassical model, we identify U(1,1) symmetry and S(2,1) supersymmetry as hidden symmetries of the corresponding quantum system. Representing the h…
In this review we discuss hidden symmetries of toroidal compactifications of eleven-dimensional supergravity. We recall alternative versions of this theory which exhibit traces of the hidden symmetries when still retaining the massive Kaluza-Klein states. We reconsider them in the broader perspective of M-theory which incorporates a more extended variety of BPS states. We also argue for a new geometry that may underly these theories. All our arguments point towards an extension of the number of space-time coordinates beyond eleven.
We study the minimal supersymmetric standard model derived from the $Z_8$ orbifold models and its hidden sectors. We use a target-space duality anomaly cancellation so as to investigate hidden sectors consistent with the MSSM unification. For the allowed hidden sectors, we estimate the running gauge coupling constants making use of threshold corrections due to the higher massive modes. The calculation is important from the viewpoint of gaugino condensations, which is one of the most promissing mechanism to break the supersymmetry.
This paper discusses the dilaton, Kähler moduli and hidden sector matter chiral superfields of heterotic $M$-theory vacua in which the hidden sector gauge bundle is chosen to be a line bundle with an anomalous U(1) structure group. For simplicity of notation, the theory is compactified on a Calabi-Yau threefold with $h^{1,1}=1$, although all methods and results apply to more general heterotic compactifications. After introducing a non-perturbative $F$-term potential and coupling to supergravity, the canonically normalized scalar and fermion mass eigenstates, evaluated around a fixed supersymme…
Hidden symmetries in a covariant Hamiltonian formulation are investigated involving gauge covariant equations of motion. The special role of the Stackel-Killing tensors is pointed out. A reduction procedure is used to reduce the original phase space to another one in which the symmetries are divided out. The reverse of the reduction procedure is done by stages performing the unfolding of the gauge transformation followed by the Eisenhart lift in connection with scalar potentials.
Representations of a group $G$ in vector spaces over a field $K$ form a category. One can reconstruct the given group $G$ from its representations to vector spaces as the full group of monoidal automorphisms of the underlying functor. This is a special example of Tannaka-Krein theory. This theory was used in recent years to reconstruct quantum groups (quasitriangular Hopf algebras) in the study of algebraic quantum field theory and other applications. We show that a similar study of representations in spaces with additional structure (super vector spaces, graded vector spaces, comodules, braid…
We review the case for light U(1) gauge bosons in the hidden-sector of heterotic and type II string compactifications, present estimates of the size of their kinetic mixing with the visible-sector hypercharge U(1), and discuss their possibly very interesting phenomenological consequences in particle physics and cosmology.
The study of hidden symmetries within Dirac's formalism does not possess a systematic procedure due to the lack of first-class constraints to act as symmetry generators. On the other hand, in the Faddeev-Jackiw approach, gauge and reparametrization symmetries are generated by the null eigenvectors of the sympletic matrix and not by constraints, suggesting the possibility of dealing systematically with hidden symmetries throughout this formalism. It is shown in this paper that indeed hidden symmetries of noninvariant or gauge fixed systems are equally well described by null eigenvectors of the …
We examine the symmetries of the action suppelemented by the constraint in the WZW-type open superstring field theory. It is found that this pseudo-action has additional symmetries provided we impose the constraint after the transformation. Respecting these additional symmetries, we propose a prescription for the new Feynman rules for the Ramond sector. It is shown that the new rules reproduce the well-known on-shell four- and five-point amplitudes with external fermions.
Many two-dimensional classical field theories have hidden symmetries that form an infinite-dimensional algebra. For those examples that correspond to effective descriptions of compactified superstring theories, the duality group is expected to be a large discrete subgroup of the hidden symmetry group. With this motivation, we explore the hidden symmetries of principal chiral models and symmetric space models.
We study particle dynamics in a space-time invariant under the $DISIM_b(2)$ group - the deformation of the $ISIM(2)$ symmetry group of very special relativity. We find that the Lorentz violation leads to the creation of higher order (hidden) symmetries which are connected to those broken at the space-time level. Through the perspective of the conserved quantities of the special relativistic case the Lorentz violation is linked to specific non-commutative relations in phase-space.
We organize the eight variables of the four-dimensional bosonic string ({\dot X}^μ, X'^μ) into a 2 x 2 x 2 hypermatrix a_{AA'A''} and show that in signature (2,2) the Nambu-Goto Lagrangian is given by \sqrt{Det a} where Det is Cayley's hyperdeterminant. This is invariant not only under [SL(2,R)]^{3} but also under interchange of the indices A, A' and A''. This triality reveals hitherto hidden discrete symmetries of the Nambu-Goto action.
The ten dimensional heterotic string effective action with graviton, dilaton and antisymmetric tensor fields is dimensionally reduced to two spacetime dimensions. The resulting theory, with some constraints on backgrounds, admits infinite sequence of conserved nonlocal currents. It is shown that generators of the infinitesimal transformations associated with these currents satisfy Kac-Moody algebra.
Examining the symmetries of the pseudo-action, we propose a prescription for the new Feynman rules for the Ramond sector of the WZW-like heterotic string field theory. The new rules are an analog of that recently proposed for the open superstring field theory and respect all the gauge symmetries including those provided we impose the constraint after transformation. It is shown that the new rules reproduce the well-known on-shell tree-level amplitudes for four and five external strings including fermions.
It is known for ten years that self-dual Yang-Mills theory is the effective field theory of the open N=2 string in 2+2 dimensional spacetime. We uncover an infinite set of abelian rigid string symmetries, corresponding to the symmetries and integrable hierarchy of the self-dual Yang-Mills equations. The twistor description of the latter naturally connects with the BRST approach to string quantization, providing an interpretation of the picture phenomenon in terms of the moduli space of string backgrounds.
We study the role of Chern--Simons couplings for the appearance of enhanced symmetries of Cremmer--Julia type in various theories. It is shown explicitly that for generic values of the Chern--Simons coupling there is only a parabolic Lie subgroup of symmetries after reduction to three space-time dimensions but that this parabolic Lie group gets enhanced to the full and larger Cremmer--Julia Lie group of hidden symmetries if the coupling takes a specific value. This is heralded by an enhanced isotropy group of the metric on the scalar manifold. Examples of this phenomenon are discussed as well …
Apart from a few remarks on lattice systems with global or gauge symmetries, most of this talk is devoted to some interesting ancient examples of symmetries and their breakdowns in elasticity theory and hydrodynamics. Since Galois Theory is in many ways the origin of group theory as a tool to analyse (hidden) symmetries, a brief review of this profound mathematical theory is also given.
These are introductory notes on the study of the Dirac equation in curved spacetime and its relation to hidden symmetries of the dynamics. We present general results on the relation between special spacetime tensors and hidden symmetries, both for the full Dirac equation and for its semi-classical limit, the spinning particle. A concrete application of the general results is provided by the case of rotating higher dimensional black holes with cosmological constant, which we discuss. For these metrics the Dirac equation is separable and the relation between this and hidden symmetries is explain…
In this paper, we discuss hidden symmetries in rotating black hole spacetimes. We start with an extended introduction which mainly summarizes results on hidden symmetries in four dimensions and introduces Killing and Killing-Yano tensors, objects responsible for hidden symmetries. We also demonstrate how starting with a principal CKY tensor (that is a closed non-degenerate conformal Killing-Yano 2-form) in 4D flat spacetime one can "generate" 4D Kerr-NUT-(A)dS solution and its hidden symmetries. After this we consider higher-dimensional Kerr-NUT-(A)dS metrics and demonstrate that they possess …
We demonstrate that the rotating black holes in an arbitrary number of dimensions and without any restrictions on their rotation parameters possess the same `hidden' symmetry as the 4-dimensional Kerr metric. Namely, besides the spacetime symmetries generated by the Killing vectors they also admit the (antisymmetric) Killing-Yano and symmetric Killing tensors.
Ultraviolet physics typically induces a kinetic mixing between gauge singlets which is marginal and hence non-decoupling in the infrared. In singlet extensions of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, e.g. the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, this furnishes a well motivated and distinctive portal connecting the visible sector to any hidden sector which contains a singlet chiral superfield. In the presence of singlet kinetic mixing, the hidden sector automatically acquires a light mass scale in the range 0.1 - 100 GeV induced by electroweak symmetry breaking. In theories with…
We investigate possible renormalization effects on the low-energy mass spectrum of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), using a calculable model of strongly coupled hidden sector. We model the hidden sector by N=2 supersymmetric quantum chromodynamics with gauge group SU(2) x U(1) and N_f=2 matter hypermultiplets, perturbed by a Fayet-Iliopoulos term which breaks the supersymmetry down to N=0 on a metastable vacuum. In the hidden sector the Kahler potential is renormalized. Upon identifying a hidden sector modulus with the renormalization scale, and extrapolating to the strongly c…
Gravity mediated supersymmetry breakdown originated from a study of gaugino condensation in a hidden sector. We review this mechanism of supergravity breakdown from the original formulation in the early eighties to its natural implementation in superstring theory and M-theory. In the latter case hidden and observable sector become separated geometrically and supersymmetry is broken dynamically on a hidden wall.
We propose a different approach to the analysis of symmetries in the near-horizon region of black holes. The idea is presented here for spherically symmetric black holes, for which we have shown that the generators of hidden symmetries can be extracted by solving the conformal Killing equation under certain assumptions. Our result is in agreement with that obtained in literature by the analysis of the wave equation in the near-horizon region.
We propose a simple and natural model of dynamical supersymmetry breaking, which could be used as a mechanism for spontaneous supersymmetry breaking in a gravitationally coupled hidden sector. The gaugino masses in the visible sector are naturally of the same size as the squark, slepton, and gravitino masses.
By relating the two-dimensional U(N) Principal Chiral Model to a simple linear system we obtain a free-field parametrisation of solutions. Obvious symmetry transformations on the free-field data give symmetries of the model. In this way all known `hidden symmetries' and Bäcklund transformations, as well as a host of new symmetries, arise.
We study vortex solutions in a theory with dynamics governed by two weakly coupled Abelian Higgs models, describing a hidden sector and a visible sector. We analyze the radial dependence of the axially symmetric solutions constructed numerically and discuss the stability of vortex configurations for different values of the model parameters, studying in detail vortex decay into lower energy configurations. We find that even in a weak coupling regime vortex solutions strongly depend on the parameters of both the visible and hidden sectors. We also discuss on qualitative grounds possible implicat…
We investigate the presence of vortices in generalized Maxwell-Higgs models with a hidden sector. The model engenders $U(1)\times U(1)$ symmetry, in a manner that the sectors are coupled via the visible magnetic permeability depending only on the hidden scalar field. We develop a first order framework in which the hidden sector decouples from the visible one. We illustrate the results with two specific examples, that give rise to the presence of vortices with internal structure.
A framework associating quantum cosmological boundary conditions to minisuperspace hidden symmetries has been introduced in \cite{7}. The scope of the application was, notwithstanding the novelty, restrictive because it lacked a discussion involving realistic matter fields. Therefore, in the herein letter, we extend the framework scope to encompass elements from a scalar-tensor theory in the presence of a cosmological constant. More precisely, it is shown that hidden minisuperspace symmetries present in a pre-big bang model suggest a process from which boundary conditions can be selected.
If scale invariance is a classical symmetry then both the Planck scale and the weak scale should emerge as quantum effects. We show that this can be realized in simple scale invariant theories with a hidden sector. The weak/Planck scale hierarchy emerges in the (technically natural) limit where the hidden sector decouples from the ordinary sector. The weak scale is protected from quadratic divergences because of classical scale invariance, so there is no hierarchy problem.
We investigate the detailed phenomenology of a light Abelian hidden sector in the Randall-Sundrum framework. Relative to other works with light hidden sectors, the main new feature is a tower of hidden Kaluza-Klein vectors that kinetically mix with the Standard Model photon and Z. We investigate the decay properties of the hidden sector fields in some detail, and develop an approach for calculating processes initiated on the ultraviolet brane of a warped space with large injection momentum relative to the infrared scale. Using these results, we determine the detailed bounds on the light warped…
We review here some general properties of antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chains, emphasizing and discussing the role of hidden symmetries in the classification of the various phases of the models. We present also some recent results that have been obtained with a combined use of Conformal Field Theory and of numerical Density Matrix Renormalization Group techniques.
The renormalization of operators responsible for soft supersymmetry breaking is usually calculated by starting at some high scale and including only visible sector interactions in the evolution equations, while ignoring hidden sector interactions. Here we explain why this is correct only for the most trivial structures in the hidden sector, and discuss possible implications. This investigation was prompted by the idea of conformal sequestering. In that framework hidden sector renormalizations by nearly conformal dynamics are critical. In the original models of conformal sequestering it was nec…
In this dissertation we study hidden symmetries within the framework of string theory. There are two kinds of hidden symmetries investigated in this work: the first type is associated with dynamics of quantum fields and the second type is related to integrability of strings on various backgrounds. The goals of this thesis are twofold: extension of hidden symmetries known in general relativity to stringy backgrounds in higher dimensions and construction of new integrable string theories. In the context of the first goal we study hidden symmetries of stringy backgrounds, with and without supersy…
We investigate the possibility that a (light) hidden sector extra photon receives its mass via spontaneous symmetry breaking of a hidden sector Higgs boson, the so-called hidden-Higgs. The hidden-photon can mix with the ordinary photon via a gauge kinetic mixing term. The hidden-Higgs can couple to the Standard Model Higgs via a renormalizable quartic term - sometimes called the Higgs Portal. We discuss the implications of this light hidden-Higgs in the context of laser polarization and light-shining-through-the-wall experiments as well as cosmological, astrophysical, and non-Newtonian force m…
The moduli space of the Calabi-Yau three-folds, which play a role as superstring ground states, exhibits the same {\em special geometry} that is known from nonlinear sigma models in $N=2$ supergravity theories. We discuss the symmetry structure of special real, complex and quaternionic spaces. Maps between these spaces are implemented via dimensional reduction. We analyze the emergence of {\em extra} and {\em hidden} symmetries. This analysis is then applied to homogeneous special spaces and the implications for the classification of homogeneous quaternionic spaces are discussed.
We study the hidden sector effects to the mass renormalization of a simplest gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking scenario. We point out that possible hidden sector contributions render the soft scalar masses smaller, resulting in drastically different sparticle mass spectrum at low energy. In particular, in the ${\bf 5}+\bar{\bf 5}$ minimal gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking with high messenger scale (that is favored by the gravitino cold dark matter scenario), we show that stau can be the next lightest superparticle for moderate values of hidden sector self coupling. This provides a very…
In models of supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking and mediation, strongly coupled SUSY-breaking sectors can play a significant role in determining the low-energy spectrum of the model. For example, strong dynamics may provide a natural solution to both the SUSY flavor problem and the mu / B mu problem. Recently, it has been suggested that a large class of these models lead to identical boundary conditions at the SUSY breaking scale. These boundary conditions would severely constrain the models' viability. We demonstrate that the boundary conditions are instead sensitive to the details of the hidden s…
Hidden theories coupled to the SM may provide emergent (dark) vectors, that are composites/bound-states of the hidden fields. This is motivated by paradigms emerging from the AdS/CFT correspondence but it is a more general phenomenon. We explore the general setup and find that UV interactions among currents or charged fields give rise to emergent vectors in the IR. We study the general properties of such vectors and argue that they can be generically different from fundamental dark photons that have been studied so far.
We generalize our previous lattice construction of the abelian bosonization duality in $2+1$ dimensions to the entire web of dualities as well as the $N_f=2$ self-duality, via the lattice implementation of a set of modular transformations in the theory space. The microscopic construction provides explicit operator mappings, and allows the manifestation of some hidden symmetries. It also exposes certain caveats and implicit assumptions beneath the usual application of the modular transformations to generate the web of dualities. Finally, we make brief comments on the non-relativistic limit of t…
We introduce a novel mechanism for baryogenesis, in which mixed anomalies between the hidden sector and $U(1)_{baryon}$ drive the baryon asymmetry. We demonstrate that this mechanism occurs quite naturally in intersecting-brane constructions of the Standard Model, and show that it solves some of the theoretical difficulties faced in matching baryogenesis to experimental bounds. We illustrate with a specific example model. We also discuss the possible signals at the LHC.
We study well-motivated dark matter candidates arising from weakly-coupled hidden sectors in compactified string/$M$-theory. Imposing generic top-down constraints greatly restricts allowed candidates. By considering the possible mechanisms for achieving the correct dark matter relic density, we compile categories of viable dark matter candidates and annihilation mediators. We consider the case where supersymmetry breaking occurs via moduli stabilisation and is gravitationally mediated to the visible and other hidden sectors, without assuming sequestering of the sector in which supersymmetry is…
We argue that the eta-problem in supergravity inflation cannot be solved without knowledge of the ground state of hidden sectors that are gravitationally coupled to the inflaton. If the hidden sector breaks supersymmetry independently, its fields cannot be stabilized during cosmological evolution of the inflaton. We show that both the subsequent dynamical mixing between sectors as well as the lightest mass of the hidden sector are set by the scale of supersymmetry breaking in the hidden sector. The true cosmological eta-parameter arises from a linear combination of the lightest mode of the hid…
