Ripples in spacetime from broken supersymmetry

Abstract

We initiate the study of gravitational wave (GW) signals from first-order phase transitions in supersymmetry-breaking hidden sectors. Such phase transitions often occur along a pseudo-flat direction universally related to supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking in hidden sectors that spontaneously break R-symmetry. The potential along this pseudo-flat direction imbues the phase transition with a number of novel properties, including a nucleation temperature well below the scale of heavy states (such that the temperature dependence is captured by the low-temperature expansion) and significant friction induced by the same heavy states as they pass through bubble walls. In low-energy SUSY-breaking hidden sectors, the frequency of the GW signal arising from such a phase transition is guaranteed to lie within the reach of future interferometers given existing cosmological constraints on the gravitino abundance. Once a mediation scheme is specified, the frequency of the GW peak correlates with the superpartner spectrum. Current bounds on supersymmetry are compatible with GW signals at future interferometers, while the observation of a GW signal from a SUSY-breaking hidden sector would imply superpartners within reach of future colliders.

Gravitational Waves in Metastable Supersymmetry Breaking

“…Fortunately, it seems that there has already been a gauge mediation model which is compatible with our scenario [45]. It would be interesting to study the correlation between the mass spectrum of superpartner particles and gravitational wave spectra in detail [20].…”

“…However if it is true, then supersymmetry needs to be broken at some point in the cosmological history. In [20], it was pointed out that a first order phase transition along a pseudo-flat direction associated with the spontaneous breaking of a U (1) R-symmetry could give rise to detectable gravitational wave signals. The discussion applies to generic supersymmetry breaking models where the supersymmetry breaking vacua are global minima, since the existence and breaking of R-symmetry is usually required in this case [21].…”

Gravitational Waves from Mini-Split SUSY

“…Finally, we note that our findings open the door to searches for a nontrivial vacuum structure of supersymmetric theories at high temperatures. Those efforts are complementary to the recently proposed gravitational wave search for supersymmetry breaking hidden sectors [59].…”

Tracking Down the Route to the SM with Inflation and Gravitational Waves

“…There have been some arguments against the possibility of finding R symmetries [51] in 4D GUT theories, but late appearance of domain walls solely from the breaking of the GUT groups is possible but depends on the details of the effective potential at the given breaking stage. Lastly, the breaking of supersymmetry itself it can lead to FOPT [52], that can generate GW [53].…”

“…The starting point is to consider the same VOS equations as in Eq. (53). Then take the correlation length L F (t F ) at the time t F , the greater of the beginning of inflation or the formation of the network.…”