Non-renormalization theorems in softly broken SQED and the soft $β$-functions

Abstract

The renormalization of softly broken SQED is related to the one of supersymmetric QED by using the construction with a local gauge supercoupling and by taking into account softly broken anomalous axial U(1) symmetry. From this extended model one obtains the non-renormalization theorems of SQED and the counterterms of the soft breaking parameters as functions of the supersymmetric counterterms. Due to the Adler-Bardeen anomaly of the axial current an invariant regularization scheme does not exist, and therefore the $β$-functions of soft breaking parameters are derived from an algebraic construction of the Callan-Symanzik equation and of the renormalization group equation. We obtain the soft $β$-functions in terms of the gauge $β$-function and of the anomalous dimension of the supersymmetric matter mass. In particular, we find that the X-term of the scalar mass $β$-function as well as the gauge $β$-function in $l\geq 2$ are due to the Adler-Bardeen anomaly of the axial symmetry.