Supersymmetry In Particle Physics

Supersymmetry represents the culmination of the search for fundamental symmetries that has dominated particle physics for 50 years. Traditionally, the constituents of matter (fermions) were regarded as different from the particles (bosons) transmitting the forces between them. In supersymmetry, fermions and bosons are unified. Intended for graduate students in particle physics, and researchers in experimental and phenomenological supersymmetry, this textbook, first published in 2007, provides a simple introduction to a previously formidably technical field. Its elementary, practical treatment brings readers to the frontier of contemporary research, in particular the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider. Theories are constructed through an intuitive 'trial and error' approach. Basic elements of spinor formalism and superfields are introduced, allowing readers to access more advanced treatments. Emphasis is placed on physical understanding, and on detailed derivations of important steps. Many short exercises are included, making for a valuable and accessible self-study tool.

In the fall of 1981 the Centro de Estudios Nucleares of the Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico organized an International School of Supersymmetry which took place in Mexico City from Dec. 14 to Dec. 18. The purpose of this School was to provide both students and researchers with an introduction to Supersymmetry as weIl as an overview of current research topics. A general introduction to the subject was given by Dr. Freedman while Dr. Grisaru discussed the superspace formulation of Supersym metry and Supergravity. Applications of these ideas to Particle Physics were discussed by Dr. Ferrara and Dr. Witten. Finally, Dr. Bars presented the basic framework for the discussion of Supersym metries in Nuclear Physics. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our lecturers for their enthusiastic participation in the School. The collaboration of Dr. Marcos Rosenbaum, Director of the Centro de Estudios Nucleares, and of all our colleagues in the Physics Department is also gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Mrs. Ma. Esther Colmenares for her careful typing of the manuscript and also for her unlimited patience in making all the necessary corrections. The help of Mr. Jose Rangel with symbols and figures is also deeply appreciated.

The theoretical understanding of elementary particle interactions has under gone a revolutionary change during the past one and a half decades. The spontaneously broken gauge theories, which in the 1970s emerged as a prime candidate for the description of electro-weak (as weIl as strong) interactions, have been confirmed by the discovery of neutral weak currents as weIl as the w- and Z-bosons. We now have a field theory of electro-weak interactions at energy scales below 100 GeV-the Glashow-Weinberg-Salam theory. It is a renormalizable theory which enables us to do calculations without en countering unnecessary divergences. The burning question now is: Wh at lies ahead at the next level of unification? As we head into the era of supercolliders and ultrahigh energy machines to answer this question, many ap, pealing possi bilities exist: left-right symmetry, technicolor, compositeness, grand unifica ti on, supersymmetry, supergravity, Kaluza-Klein models, and most recently superstrings that even unify gravity along with other interactions. Experi ments will decide if any one or any combination of these is to be relevant in the description of physics at the higher energies. As an outcome of our con fidence in the possible scenerios for elementary particle physics, we have seen our understanding of the early uni verse improve significantly.

Supersymmetry (SUSY) is one of the most important ideas ever conceived in particle physics. It is a symmetry that relates known elementary particles of a certain spin to as yet undiscovered particles that differ by half a unit of that spin (known as Superparticles). Supersymmetric models now stand as the most promising candidates for a unified theory beyond the Standard Model (SM). SUSY is an elegant and simple theory, but its existence lacks direct proof. Instead of dismissing supersymmetry altogether, Supersymmetry Beyond Minimality: from Theory to Experiment suggests that SUSY may exist in more complex and subtle manifestation than the minimal model. The book explores in detail non-minimal SUSY models, in a bottom-up approach that interconnects experimental phenomena in the fermionic and bosonic sectors. The book considers with equal emphasis the Higgs and Superparticle sectors, and explains both collider and non-collider experiments. Uniquely, the book explores charge/parity and lepton flavour violation. Supersymmetry Beyond Minimality: from Theory to Experiment provides an introduction to well-motivated examples of such non-minimal SUSY models, including the ingredients for generating neutrino masses and/or relaxing the tension with the heavily constraining Large Hadron Collider (LHC) data. Examples of these scenarios are explored in depth, in particular the discussions on Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric SM (NMSSM) and B-L Supersymmetric SM (BLSSM).

This OA text develops the basic concepts of supersymmetry for experimental and phenomenological particle physicists and graduate students.

Supersymmetry is at an exciting stage of development. It extends the Standard Model of particle physics into a more powerful theory that both explains more and allows more questions to be addressed. Most important, it opens a window for studying and testing fundamental theories at the Planck scale. Experimentally we are finally entering the intensity and energy regions where superpartners are likely to be detected, and then studied. There has been progress in understanding the remarkable physics implications of supersymmetry, including the derivation of the Higgs mechanism, the unification of the Standard Model forces, cosmological connections such as a candidate for the cold dark matter of the universe and the scalar fields that drive inflation and their potential, the relationship to Planck scale theories, and more.While there are a number of reviews and books where the mathematical structure and uses of supersymmetry can be learned, there are few where the particle physics is the main focus. This book fills that gap. It begins with an excellent pedagogical introduction to the physics and methods and formalism of supersymmetry, by S Martin, which is accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of the Standard Model of particle physics. Next is an overview of open questions by K Dienes and C Kolda, followed by chapters on topics ranging from how to detect superpartners to connections with Planck scale theories, by leading experts.This invaluable book will allow any interested physicist to understand the coming experimental and theoretical progress in supersymmetry, and will also help students and workers to quickly learn new aspects of supersymmetry they want to pursue.

These volumes, a collection of a series of articles with commentary notes by the editor, describe supersymmetric theories for particle interactions from the earliest developments to the latest advancements. The book, divided into two volumes, will mainly focus its attention on subjects related to the application of N = 1 supersymmetry and supergravity to unified theories, encompassing all fundamental forces of nature. Particular emphasis is given to the ultraviolet cancellations in supersymmetric field theories, naturalness and hierarchy of scales, spontaneous symmetry breaking, super-Higgs effect and its applications to high energy physics. Both perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of supersymmetric field theories are covered. Over a hundred seminar papers are reprinted in these volumes.