Weak symmetry breaking by radiative corrections in broken supergravity

Abstract

Weak interaction gauge symmetry breaking can be generated by radiative corrections in a spontaneously broken supergravity theory, provided the top quark is heavy enough. In one class of such theories the weak Higgs vacuum expectation values are determined by dimensional transmutation à la Coleman-Weinberg, and may be considerably larger than the magnitudes of SUSY breaking mass parameters. In this scenario m t⩾65 GeV, the supersymmetric partners of known particles may have masses ⪡ m W, the mass of the lighter neutral scalar Higgs boson is determined by radiative corrections, and there is some variant of a light pseudoscalar axion. In contrast to conventional Coleman-Weinberg models, the weak phase transition is second order and there is no likelihood of excess entropy production.