Spontaneous R-symmetry breaking in O'Raifeartaigh models

Abstract

We study the question of whether spontaneous U(1) R breaking can occur in O'Raifeartaigh-type models of spontaneous supersymmetry breaking. We show that in order for it to occur, there must be a field in the theory with R-charge different from 0 or 2. We construct the simplest O'Raifeartaigh model with this property, and we find that for a wide range of parameters, it has a meta-stable vacuum where U(1) R is spontaneously broken. This suggests that spontaneous U(1) R breaking actually occurs in generic O'Raifeartaigh models.