Generalized symmetry breaking on orbifolds.
We reconsider the phenomenon of mass generation via coordinate-dependent compactifications of higher-dimensional theories on orbifolds. For definiteness, we study a generic five-dimensional theory compactified on S(1)/Z(2). We show that the presence of fixed points, where the fields or their derivatives may be discontinuous, permits new realizations of the Scherk-Schwarz mechanism where, for example, the mass terms are localized at the orbifold fixed points. Our technique can be used to describe the explicit breaking of global flavor symmetries and supersymmetries by brane-localized mass terms. It can also be applied to the spontaneous breaking of local symmetries, such as gauge symmetries or supergravities.
Bagger
Jonathan A
JA
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
Feruglio
Ferruccio
F
Zwirner
Fabio
F