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arXiv · hep-th/0107128

Generalized symmetry breaking on orbifolds

Jonathan Bagger·Ferruccio Feruglio·Fabio Zwirner
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Abstract

We reconsider the phenomenon of mass generation via coordinate-dependent compatifications of higher-dimensional theories on orbifolds. For definiteness, we study a generic five-dimensional (5D) 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.

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Jonathan Bagger, Ferruccio Feruglio, Fabio Zwirner. 2002-02-01. Generalized symmetry breaking on orbifolds. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.88.101601

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