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arxiv: 2605.01661 · v1 · submitted 2026-05-03 · ✦ hep-th

Higher-derivative mathcal{N}=1 and mathcal{N}=2 supersymmetric Maxwell-Chern-Simons theories at one loop in superspace

F. S. Gama This is my paper

Pith reviewed 2026-05-09 17:29 UTC · model grok-4.3

classification ✦ hep-th
keywords higher-derivativemathcaleffectivegaugemaxwell-chern-simonspolynomialpotentialtheories
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The pith

Higher-derivative supersymmetric Maxwell-Chern-Simons theories in N=1 and N=2 superspace have their one-loop effective potentials computed explicitly in closed form via background field quantization.

A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.

Standard Maxwell-Chern-Simons theories combine electromagnetic fields with a topological term that gives mass to the photon in three dimensions. The authors add higher-derivative terms, specifically powers of the wave operator acting only on the gauge fields, inside superspace formulations for one and two supersymmetries. They then apply background field methods in a special gauge to calculate the one-loop quantum corrections to the effective potential, which describes the vacuum energy as a function of the fields. The result comes out as a closed expression involving roots of certain polynomial equations derived from the higher-derivative operator.

Core claim

The effective potential is obtained in closed form and expressed in terms of the roots of polynomial functions.

Load-bearing premise

The higher-derivative operator, a polynomial of arbitrary degree in the d'Alembertian, can be introduced exclusively in the gauge sector while preserving the supersymmetry and allowing consistent background field quantization in the higher-derivative R_ξ gauge.

read the original abstract

We define a higher-derivative generalization of Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory in $\mathcal{N}=1$ and $\mathcal{N}=2$ superspaces. In particular, the chosen higher-derivative operator is a polynomial function of the d'Alembertian of arbitrary degree, and it is introduced exclusively in the gauge sector. The main goal is to explicitly compute the one-loop quantum corrections to the superfield effective potential for these theories. This is carried out by means of background field quantization in a higher-derivative $R_\xi$ gauge. The effective potential is obtained in closed form and expressed in terms of the roots of polynomial functions.

Editorial analysis

A structured set of objections, weighed in public.

Desk editor's note, referee report, simulated authors' rebuttal, and a circularity audit. Tearing a paper down is the easy half of reading it; the pith above is the substance, this is the friction.

Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger

0 free parameters · 2 axioms · 0 invented entities

Only the abstract is available, so the ledger is limited to standard assumptions of supersymmetric QFT; no free parameters or invented entities are mentioned.

axioms (2)
  • domain assumption Supersymmetry is preserved by the higher-derivative operator introduced only in the gauge sector.
    Stated in the definition of the theories.
  • domain assumption Background field quantization in the higher-derivative R_ξ gauge is valid and yields a gauge-independent effective potential.
    Invoked to obtain the one-loop corrections.

pith-pipeline@v0.9.0 · 5415 in / 1343 out tokens · 46113 ms · 2026-05-09T17:29:32.942465+00:00 · methodology

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