HET-seminar: Igal Arav

Speaker:  Igal Arav

Title: Quantum Critical and Supersymmetric Lifshitz Field Theories

Abstract: I will discuss non-boost-invariant field theories with "time domain" supersymmetry, in which the supersymmetric algebra closes on the Hamiltonian alone. I will briefly review the N=1 (two real supercharges) construction, and then introduce an N=2 family of field theories with four real supercharges and a holomorphic structure. I will show how this relatively simple construction exhibits some surprising properties: Mainly, the marginal subcases realize lines of quantum exact, interacting Lifshitz fixed points with vanishing beta functions in various space dimensions. Additionally, these theories enjoy a rich moduli space of vacua with spontaneously broken translation symmetry.