1.

Homework Set 9 (SPA7031U/P)

Assigned: 14/3/19
Due: At the beginning of the tenth lecture on 21/3/19.

1. (a) [3 points] (*) Write out the superspace Lagrangian for N = 2 super quantum
electrodynamics (SQED) with Nf flavors of matter (let us call these chiral matter fields
QA , Q̃A with A = 1, 2, · · · , Nf ; denote the field strength linear superfield as Σ). Separately,
write out the superspace Lagrangian for a theory of three free chiral multiplets, X, Y , and
Z (let us call this latter theory “XY Z”). Do not integrate over superspace.

(b) [2 points] (*) As we discussed in class, SQED has two abelian flavor symmetries
in addition to the non-abelian su(Nf )2 symmetry. Up to overall constants, write the
corresponding current superfields for these abelian currents in terms of the superfields
discussed in (a) and their conjugates. You do not need to write out the component fields.

(c) [2 points] (*) What is the global internal symmetry (flavor and R-symmetry) of the
XY Z theory?

(d) [3 points] (*) Consider the theory of a free N = 2 chiral multiplet, X, with lowest
component χ (i.e., the term with no Grassmann parameters). What are the flavor and
R-symmetries of this theory? What is the scaling dimension of χN , where N ≥ 1 is an
integer? What is its superconformal R-charge? What are the scaling dimensions and
superconformal R-charges of, χ̄N , where χ̄ is the lowest component of the anti-chiral X̄
superfield.