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# Infrared quasi–fixed solutions in the NMSSM

## 1 Introduction

The existence of quasi–fixed points is among the most spectacular and the most interesting properties of renormalization group equations. A feature characteristic to those solutions to renormalization group equations that approach such points is that a number of fundamental parameters of the theory are focused in a narrow interval in the infrared region. This means that, at the electroweak scale, some constants or their combinations cease to depend on the boundary conditions. That solutions to renormalization group equations behave in so peculiar a way in the vicinities of quasi–fixed points results in that the parameter space of the theory being considered is constrained for a wide class of such solutions. As a result, the predictive power of the theories being discussed becomes higher near these points. Nonetheless, it turns out that, within the minimal Standard Model (SM), the quasi–fixed point scenario leads to overly high a value for the mass of the $`t`$–quark, which contradicts experimental data obtained at FNAL.

In contrast to the SM, its supersymmetric (SUSY) generalization – the Minimal SUSY Standard Model (MSSM) – features two Higgs doublets (not one), $`H_1`$ and $`H_2`$. Upon a spontaneous breakdown of symmetry, they develop nonzero vacuum expectation values $`v_1`$ and $`v_2`$, with the constraint $`v^2=v_1^2+v_2^2=(246\text{ GeV})^2`$ being satisfied. In relation to what occurs in the SM, the $`t`$–quark running mass $`m_t`$ that is generated within SUSY models upon the breakdown of $`SU(2)U(1)`$ gauge symmetry involves an additional factor $`\mathrm{sin}\beta `$,

$$m_t(M_t^{\text{pole}})=\frac{h_t(M_t^{\text{pole}})}{\sqrt{2}}v\mathrm{sin}\beta ,$$
(1)
where $`\mathrm{tan}\beta =v_2/v_1`$ and $`h_t`$ is the Yukawa coupling constant for the $`t`$–quark. Since $`\mathrm{sin}\beta 1`$, $`m_t(M_t^{\text{pole}})`$ is always less in the MSSM than in the SM at the same values of the Yukawa coupling constants. Recent experimental data on the $`t`$–quark mass make it possible to determine $`m_t(M_t^{\text{pole}})`$ within the $`\overline{MS}`$ scheme . It proves to be $`m_t(M_t^{\text{pole}})=165\pm 5\text{ GeV}`$. The uncertainty in the determination of the running mass of the $`t`$–quark stems predominantly from the experimental error with which its pole mass was measured ($`M_t^{\text{pole}}=174.3\pm 5.1\text{ GeV}`$ ).

Equation (1) unambiguously relates $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ to the value of the Yukawa coupling constant for the $`t`$–quark at the electroweak scale. At modest values of $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ ($`\mathrm{tan}\beta 5060`$), the Yukawa coupling constants for the $`b`$–quark, $`h_b`$, and for the $`\tau `$–lepton, $`h_\tau `$, are negligibly small, which makes it possible to obtain an analytic solution to the renormalization group equation within the MSSM . In this case, the boundary conditions are imposed at the scale $`M_X310^{16}\text{ GeV}`$, where the gauge coupling constants are naturally unified within the MSSM. For the $`t`$–quark Yukawa coupling constant, it is convenient to represent an exact solution to the renormalization group equations in the form

$$Y_t(t)=\frac{{\displaystyle \frac{E(t)}{6F(t)}}}{1+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{6Y_t(0)F(t)}}},$$
(2)
where $`Y_t(t)=h_t^2(t)/(4\pi )^2`$ and $`t=\mathrm{ln}(M_X^2/q^2)`$. The explicit expressions for the functions $`E(t)`$ and $`F(t)`$ are presented in the Appendix (see (27)). At the electroweak scale, the second term in parentheses is much less than unity for $`h_t^2(0)1`$. The dependence of $`h_t^2(t)`$ on the initial conditions at $`t=0`$ is weak, and the relevant solution to the renormalization group equations approaches a quasi–fixed point : $`Y_{\text{QFP}}(t)=E(t)/6F(t)`$. Formally, a solution of this type can be obtained by making $`Y_t(0)`$ tend to infinity in expression (2). The situation here is, however, different from that near the Pendleton–Ross infrared fixed point -, which solutions to the renormalization group equations approach only in the asymptotic regime for $`q^20`$: the deviation from $`Y_{\text{QFP}}`$ at finite values of $`Y_t(0)`$ is determined by the ratio $`Y_{\text{QFP}}(t)/(E(t)Y_t(0))`$, which is of order $`1/(10h_t^2(0))`$ at the electroweak scale and which is small at comparatively large $`h_t^2(0)`$ ($`h_t^2(0)1`$). For a wide class of solutions, this interesting property of the renormalization group equations within the MSSM makes it possible to predict quite precisely the value of the Yukawa coupling constant for the $`t`$–quark at the scale $`q=M_t^{\text{pole}}`$,

$$h_{\text{QFP}}^2(t_0)=0.87g_3^2(t_0)=1.26,$$
(3)
where $`g_3`$ is the gauge coupling constant for strong interaction and $`t_0=2\mathrm{ln}(M_X/M_t^{\text{pole}})`$. The accuracy of this prediction becomes higher with increasing $`h_t^2(0)`$. At sufficiently large initial values of $`Y_t(t)`$, it would be illegitimate to restrict the analysis to one–loop renormalization group equations – it is necessary to take into account higher order perturbative corrections. Moreover, the value of the Yukawa coupling constant for the $`t`$–quark at the electroweak scale depends on the strong interaction coupling constant, which we set to $`\alpha _3(M_Z)=0.118`$. Nevertheless, all these uncertainties do not lead to significant deviation from (3). By way of example, we indicate that the calculations that were performed in  and which employed the four–loop beta function showed that deviations from (3) are within $`2\%`$.

For each fixed value of $`Y_t(0)`$, the Yukawa coupling constant for the $`t`$–quark at the electroweak scale can be evaluated by using the exact analytic solution (2), whereupon $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ can be determined by substituting the resulting value of $`h_t(t_0)`$ into (4). The theoretical analysis performed in - revealed that, for the renormalization group equations within the MSSM, a broad class of solutions corresponding to the infrared quasi–fixed point regime leads to $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ values ranging between $`1.3`$ and $`1.8`$. With increasing Yukawa coupling constant for the $`t`$–quark, the corresponding trilinear coupling constant $`A_t`$ for the interaction of scalar particles and the combination $`𝔐_t^2=m_Q^2+m_U^2+m_2^2`$ of the scalar particle masses cease to depend on the initial conditions. In the vicinity of the quasi–fixed point, they are expressed in terms of only the gaugino mass at the scale $`M_X`$, with the result that the parameter space is further constrained. In the infrared quasi–fixed point regime at $`\mathrm{tan}\beta 1`$, the properties of solutions to the set of renormalization group equations and the spectrum of particles were investigated in , -.

Finally, there is yet another circumstance that appears as an incentive to study the limit of strong Yukawa coupling within the MSSM. Minimal schemes that are used to unify gauge interactions and which are based on gauge groups like $`SU(5)`$, $`E_6`$, or $`SO(10)`$ predict the equality of the Yukawa coupling constants $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$ for , respectively, the $`b`$–quark and the $`\tau `$–lepton at the scale $`M_X`$ . Within the MSSM, $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$ are unified at two specific values of $`h_t(M_t^{\text{pole}})`$. One of these fails within a narrow region near $`h_{\text{QFP}}(t_0)`$, while the other corresponds to the scenario of large $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$. In more detail, the problem of $`b\tau `$ unification within the MSSM was discussed in , ,,,,.

The spectrum of the Higgs sector of the MSSM contains four massive states: two CP–odd states, one CP–even state, and one charged state. The presence of a light Higgs boson in the CP–even sector is an important feature of SUSY models. The upper limit on its mass greatly depends on $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$. A reduction of the number of independent parameters in the infrared quasi–fixed point regime made it possible to determine, to a sufficiently high degree of precision, an upper limit on the mass of the lightest CP–even Higgs boson. In the case being considered, comparatively small values of $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ result in that its mass does not exceed $`94\pm 5\text{ GeV}`$ -. This limit is $`2530\text{ GeV}`$ lower than the absolute upper limit in the minimal SUSY model. At the same time the lower limit on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson from LEP II data – in the case of a heavy spectrum of SUSY particles, it coincides with the corresponding limit on the Higgs boson mass in the SM – is $`113.3\text{ GeV}`$ . Actually, this means that a major part of solutions approaching the infrared quasi–fixed point within the MSSM have already been ruled out by the existing LEP II data. In order to meet the experimental constraints on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson, it is necessary either to go over to studying solutions that lead to large values of $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ within the MSSM or to extend the Higgs sector of the minimal SUSY model. The detailed investigations that were performed in , , ,  revealed that, at $`\mathrm{tan}\beta 5060`$, solutions to the renormalization group equations also approach the infrared quasi–fixed point, the basic properties of the solutions remaining unchanged.

The nonminimal SUSY SM (NMSSM) - whose Higgs sector contains, in addition to the doublets $`H_1`$ and $`H_2`$, an extra superfield $`Y`$ that is a singlet with respect to $`SU(2)U(1)`$ gauge interactions is the simplest extension of the MSSM. In the parameter space of the NMSSM, the region that corresponds to the limit of strong Yukawa coupling, in which case the Yukawa coupling constants $`Y_i(0)`$ at the Grand Unification scale $`M_X`$ are much greater than the gauge coupling constant $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)`$, is that which is the most appealing from the point of view of a theoretical analysis. It is the region where the upper limit on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson takes a maximum value that is few GeV greater than the corresponding absolute limit within the MSSM . Moreover, it is possible, in the case being considered, to choose coupling constants in such a way as to obtain the unification of the Yukawa coupling constants for the $`b`$–quark and the $`\tau `$–lepton at the scale $`M_X`$.

For the Yukawa coupling constants in the limit of strong Yukawa coupling, we study here basic properties of solutions to the renormalization group equations within the NMSSM. We show that, in the limit $`Y_i(0)\mathrm{}`$, all solutions in the nonminimal SUSY model are concentrated, as in the MSSM, near quasi–fixed points that arise as the result of intersections of Hill lines or surfaces with some invariant line in the space of Yukawa coordinates. However, the solution are rather weakly attracted to these points. For $`Y_i(0)\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)`$, all solutions to the renormalization group equations are therefore nonuniformly distributed near Hill lines or surfaces. Approximate solutions to the set of nonlinear differential equations that describe the evolution of $`Y_i(t)`$ within the NMSSM are presented in the Appendix. The approximate solutions that are obtained in the present study are compared with the results of numerical calculations within the nonminimal SUSY model.

## 2 Upper limit on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson and renormalisation group equations in the NMSSM

By construction, the superpotential of the NMSSM is invariant under the discrete transformations $`y_\alpha ^{}=e^{2\pi i/3}y_\alpha `$ of the $`Z_3`$ group . The term $`\mu (H_1H_2)`$ in the superpotential of the NMSSM does not satisfy this requirement. For this reason, an extra superfield $`Y`$ that is a singlet with respect to $`SU(2)U(1)`$ gauge interactions is introduced in the NMSSM. The superpotential of the Higgs sector of the NMSSM - has the form

$$W_h=\lambda Y(H_1H_2)+\frac{\varkappa }{3}Y^3.$$
(4)
Upon a spontaneous breakdown of $`SU(2)U(1)`$ symmetry, the field $`Y`$ develops a nonzero vacuum expectation value ($`Y=y/\sqrt{2}`$) and there arises an effective $`\mu `$–term ($`\mu =\lambda y/\sqrt{2}`$).

The introduction of the neutral field $`Y`$ in the superpotential of the NMSSM leads to the emergence of the corresponding $`F`$–term in the potential of the interaction of Higgs fields. As a result, the upper limit on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson proves to be greater than in the MSSM. Specifically, we have

$$m_h\sqrt{\frac{\lambda ^2}{2}v^2\mathrm{sin}^22\beta +M_Z^2\mathrm{cos}^22\beta +\mathrm{\Delta }_1+\mathrm{\Delta }_2},$$
(5)
where $`\mathrm{\Delta }_1`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }_2`$ stand for, respectively, one–loop and two–loop corrections. At $`\lambda =0`$, the expressions for the above upper limit within the MSSM and the NMSSM coincide. In the tree approximation, relation (5) was obtained in . The inclusion of loop corrections to the effective potential of Higgs fields leads to a considerable growth of the upper limit on $`m_h`$. The main contributions to $`\mathrm{\Delta }_1`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }_2`$ come from loops involving a $`t`$–quark and its superpartners. In the leading approximation, the contribution of loop corrections to the upper limit on the Higgs boson mass within the NMSSM is approximately equal to that within the minimal SUSY model. In calculating the corrections $`\mathrm{\Delta }_1`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }_2`$ within the NMSSM, it is necessary, however, to replace the parameter $`\mu `$ by $`\lambda y/\sqrt{2}`$. One–loop and two–loop corrections within the MSSM were studied in  and , respectively. In the leading approximation, these corrections are proportional to $`m_t^4`$; they depend logarithmically on the scale of SUSY breaking, $`M_S=\sqrt{m_{\stackrel{~}{t}_1}m_{\stackrel{~}{t}_2}}`$ ($`m_{\stackrel{~}{t}_1}`$ and $`m_{\stackrel{~}{t}_2}`$ are the masses of the superpartners of the $`t`$–quark), and are virtually independent on the choice of $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$. The Higgs sector in the nonminimal SUSY model and one–loop corrections to this sector were studied in -. The possibility of a spontaneous CP–violation in the Higgs sector of the NMSSM was considered in ,. In , the upper limit on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson within the NMSSM was compared with the corresponding limits within the minimal SM and minimal SUSY models. The most recent investigations revealed that, in the nonminimal SUSY model, $`m_h`$ does not exceed 135 GeV .

From relation (5), it follows that the upper limit on $`m_h`$ grows with the increasing $`\lambda (t_0)`$. It should be emphasised that only in the region of small $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ is this limit markedly different from the corresponding limit within the MSSM. At large values of this parameter ($`\mathrm{tan}\beta 1`$), the quantity $`\mathrm{sin}2\beta `$ vanishes, so that the upper limits on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson within the MSSM and the NMSSM virtually coincide. But only in the case of sufficiently large $`h_t(t_0)`$ is the scenario of small $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ realised, $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ becoming smaller with increasing $`h_t(t_0)`$, as can be seen from relation (1). At the same time, an analysis of the renormalisation group equations within the MSSM and the NMSSM reveals that the growth of the Yukawa coupling constants at the electroweak scale is accompanied by an increase in $`h_t(0)`$ and $`\lambda (0)`$ at the Grand Unification scale. Thus, it becomes clear that the upper limit on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson within the nonminimal SUSY model attains a maximum value in the limit of strong Yukawa coupling, in which case $`Y_t(0),Y_\lambda (0)\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)`$.

From the point of view of a renormalisation group analysis, investigation of the NMSSM presents a much more complicated problem than investigation of the minimal SUSY model. The full set of renormalization group equations within the NMSSM can be found in , . Even in the one–loop approximation, this set of equations os nonlinear and its analytic solution does not exist. All equations forming this set can be partitioned into two groups, the first containing equations that describe the evolution of gauge and Yukawa coupling constants. In analysing the nonlinear differential equations entering into this group, it is convenient to go over from $`h_t`$, $`\lambda `$, and $`\varkappa `$ to the quantities $`\rho _t`$, $`\rho _\lambda `$, and $`\rho _\varkappa `$, which are defined as the ratios of the squares of the corresponding Yukawa coupling constants and the gauge coupling constant for strong interaction,

$$\rho _t(t)=\frac{Y_t(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)},\rho _\lambda (t)=\frac{Y_\lambda (t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)},\rho _\varkappa (t)=\frac{Y_\varkappa (t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)},$$

where $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)=g_3^2(t)/(4\pi )^2`$, $`Y_t(t)=h_t^2(t)/(4\pi )^2`$, $`Y_\lambda (t)=\lambda ^2(t)/(4\pi )^2`$, and $`Y_\varkappa (t)=\varkappa ^2(t)/(4\pi )^2`$. The one–loop renormalisation group equations for $`\rho _i(t)`$ have the form

$`{\displaystyle \frac{d\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3}{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`3\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3^2`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d\rho _1}{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3\rho _1\left({\displaystyle \frac{33}{5}}\rho _1+3\right)`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d\rho _2}{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3\rho _2\left(\rho _2+3\right)`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d\rho _t}{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3\rho _t\left(6\rho _t+\rho _\lambda {\displaystyle \frac{7}{3}}3\rho _2{\displaystyle \frac{13}{15}}\rho _1\right)`$ (6)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d\rho _\lambda }{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3\rho _\lambda \left(3\rho _t+4\rho _\lambda +2\rho _\varkappa +33\rho _2{\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}}\rho _1\right)`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{d\rho _\varkappa }{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3\rho _\varkappa \left(6\rho _\lambda +6\rho _\varkappa +3\right),`$
where $`\rho _1(t)=\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t)/\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)`$, $`\rho _2(t)=\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t)/\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)`$, $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t)=g_1^2(t)/(4\pi )^2`$, and $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t)=g_2^2(t)/(4\pi )^2`$. The second group includes equations for the parameters of a soft breakdown of SUSY, which are necessary for obtaining a phenomenologically acceptable spectrum of superpartners of observable particles. Since boundary conditions for three Yukawa coupling constants are unknown, it is very difficult to perform a numerical analysis of the equations belonging to the first group and of the full set of the equations given above. In the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, however, solutions to the renormalisation group equations are concentrated in a narrow region of the parameter space near the electroweak scale, and this considerably simplifies the analysis of the set of equations being considered.

## 3 Invariant and quasi–fixed lines; a determination of the quasi–fixed point

Let us first consider the simplest case of $`\varkappa =0`$. The growth of the Yukawa coupling constant $`\lambda (t_0)`$ at a fixed value of $`h_t(t_0)`$ results in that the Landau pole in solutions to the renormalization group equations approaches the Grand Unification scale from above. At a specific value $`\lambda (t_0)=\lambda _{\text{max}}`$, perturbation theory at $`qM_X`$ cease to be applicable. With increasing (decreasing) Yukawa coupling constant for the $`b`$–quark, $`\lambda _{\text{max}}`$ decreases (increases). In the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane, the dependence $`\lambda _{\text{max}}^2(h_t^2)`$ is represented by a curve bounding the region of admissible values of the parameters $`\rho _t(t_0)`$ and $`\rho _\lambda (t_0)`$. At $`\rho _\lambda =0`$, this curve intersects the abscissa at the point $`\rho _t=\rho _t^{\text{QFP}}(t_0)`$. This is the way in which there arises, in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane, the quasi–fixed (or Hill) line near which solutions to the renormalization group equations for the initial values of the Yukawa coupling constants in the range $`2h_t^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)10`$ are grouped (see Figs. 1a, 1b). With increasing $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ and $`h_t^2(0)`$, the region where the solutions in questions are concentrated sharply shrinks. At initial values of the Yukawa coupling constants from the range between $`20`$ and $`100`$, they are grouped in a narrow region near the straight line

$$\rho _t(t_0)+0.506\rho _\lambda (t_0)=0.91,$$
(7)
which can be obtained by fitting the results of numerical calculations (these results are presented in Figs. 2a and 2b). Moreover, it follows from the data in the Table that the combination $`h_t^2(t_0)+0.506\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ of the Yukawa coupling constants depends much more weakly on $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ and $`h_t^2(0)`$ than $`\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ and $`h_t^2(t_0)`$ individually. In other words, a decrease in $`\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ compensates for an increase in $`h_t^2(t_0)`$, and vice versa. To illustrate this, we indicate that, at initial values $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ and $`h_t^2(0)`$ from the interval $`(2,10)`$, the following occurs upon an increase in $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ and a decrease in $`h_t^2(0)`$: the constant $`\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ increases monotonically from $`0.191`$ to $`0.421`$, while $`h_t^2(t_0)`$ decreases from $`1.199`$ to $`1.051`$; at the same time, the sum $`h_t^2(t_0)+0.506\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ at identical $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ and $`h_t^2(0)`$ ranges between $`1.266`$ and $`1.318`$. The results in Figs. 3a and 3b, which illustrate the evolution of the above combinations of the Yukawa coupling constants, also confirm that this combination is virtually independent of the initial conditions.

In analysing the results of numerical calculations, our attention is engaged by a pronounced nonuniformity in the distribution of solutions to the renormalization group equations along the infrared quasi–fixed line. The main reason for this is that, in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, the solutions in question are attracted not only to the quasi–fixed but also to the infrared fixed (or invariant) line. The latter connects two fixed points. Of these, one is an infrared fixed point of the set of renormalization group equations within the NMSSM ($`\rho _t=7/18`$, $`\rho _\lambda =0`$, $`\rho _1=(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1/\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3)=0`$, $`\rho _2=(\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2/\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3)=0`$) , while the other fixed point $`(\rho _\lambda /\rho _t=1)`$ corresponds to values of the Yukawa coupling constants in the region $`Y_t,Y_\lambda \stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i`$, in which case the gauge coupling constants on the right–hand sides of the renormalization group equations can be disregarded . The infrared fixed line is invariant under renormalization group transformations – that is, it is independent of the scale at which the boundary values $`Y_t(0)`$ and $`Y_\lambda (0)`$ are specified and of the boundary values themselves. If the boundary conditions are such that $`Y_t(0)`$ and $`Y_\lambda (0)`$ belong to the fixed line, the evolution of the Yukawa coupling constants proceeds further along this line toward the infrared fixed point of the set of renormalization group equations within the NMSSM. With increasing $`t`$, all other solutions to the renormalization group equations are attracted to the infrared fixed line and, for $`t/(4\pi )1`$, approach the stable infrared fixed point. From the data in Figs. 1b and 2b, it follows that, with increasing $`Y_t(0)`$ and $`Y_\lambda (0)`$, all solutions to the renormalization group equations are concentrated in the vicinity of the point of intersection of the infrared fixed and the quasi–fixed line:

$$\rho _t^{\text{QFP}}(t_0)=0.803,\rho _\lambda ^{\text{QFP}}(t_0)=0.224.$$

Hence, this point can be considered as the quasi–fixed point of the set of renormalization group equations within the NMSSM at $`\varkappa =0`$.

Infrared fixed lines and surfaces, as well as their properties in the minimal Standard Model and in the minimal SUSY model, were studied in detail in , , . Within the NMSSM, the emergence of fixed lines can be traced at $`\lambda =0`$, in which case the set of renormalization group equations for the Yukawa coupling constants reduced to two independent differential equations – of these, one coincides with the equation for $`Y_t(t)`$ in the minimal SUSY model, while the other describes the evolution of $`Y_\varkappa (t)`$. In the limit being considered, the set of one–loop renormalization group equations has the exact analytic solution

$`Y_\varkappa (t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{Y_\varkappa (0)}{1+6Y_\varkappa (0)t}},`$
$`Y_t(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{Y_t(0)E(t)}{1+6Y_t(0)F(t)}},`$ (8)
$`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(0)}{1+b_i\alpha _i(0)t}},`$
where the expressions for $`E(t)`$, $`F(t)`$, and $`b_i`$ are presented in the Appendix. The quasi–fixed line in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa )`$ plane includes two straight lines parallel to he coordinate axes (see Fig. 4b),

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill \rho _t& =\frac{E(t_0)}{6\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t_0)F(t_0)}0.876,\hfill \\ \hfill \rho _\varkappa & =\frac{1}{6\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t_0)t_0}0.280,\hfill \end{array}$$
(9)
which intersects at the point $`(0.876,0.280)`$. Since the above solutions to the renormalization group equations are attracted to the invariant line at $`t/(4\pi )1`$, unity can be disregarded in the denominators of $`Y_t(t)`$ and $`Y_\varkappa (t)`$. The infrared fixed line can then be specified parametrically:

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill \rho _t(t)& =\frac{E(t)}{6\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)F(t)}\hfill \\ \hfill \rho _\varkappa (t)& =\frac{1}{6\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)t}.\hfill \end{array}$$
(10)
It can easily be shown that the limit $`t0`$ corresponds to the values $`\rho _t`$ and $`\rho _\varkappa 1`$ belonging to this curve, $`\rho _t`$ and $`\rho _\varkappa `$ being virtually coincident in this limit. By using the expansions of the functions $`E(t)`$ and $`F(t)`$ in the vicinity of the origin, $`F(t)t+0.5E^{}(0)t^2+\mathrm{}`$ and $`E(t)1+E^{}(0)t+\mathrm{}`$, we obtain

$$\rho _\varkappa =\rho _t\frac{4}{9}\frac{\rho _2}{4}\frac{13}{180}\rho _1.$$
(11)
The equality $`\rho _\varkappa =\rho _t`$ corresponds to the stable fixed point of the renormalization group equations in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling ($`\rho _\varkappa ,\rho _t1`$). As $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3`$ tends to the Landau pole for $`tt_c=1/(3\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(0))`$, however, the line given by Eq.(10) approaches the stable infrared point (see Fig. 4b); that is, $`\rho _t(t)`$ tends to $`7/18`$, while $`\rho _\varkappa (t)`$ vanishes: $`\rho _\varkappa (\rho _t7/18)^{9/7}`$. The curve given by (10), which connects the fixed points $`\rho _\varkappa /\rho _t=1`$ and $`\rho _\varkappa =0,\rho _t=7/18`$ intersects the quasi–fixed line at the point $`(0.876,0.280)`$. As can be seen from Fig. 4b, solutions to the renormalization group equations are concentrated precisely in the vicinity of this point.

Near the infrared fixed point, the curve being investigated is tangent to another invariant line, that which is specified by the equation $`\rho _\varkappa =0`$. This line connects the unstable fixed point $`\rho _\varkappa /\rho _t=0`$, which arises in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling ($`\rho _t1`$), with other fixed points, those at $`\rho _\varkappa =0,\rho _t=7/18`$ and at $`\rho _\varkappa =\rho _t=0`$, the last also being unstable. Yet another infrared fixed line – the attraction of solutions to the renormalization group equations to this line os the weakest – passes through the points $`\rho _t/\rho _\varkappa =0`$ and $`\rho _t=7/18\rho _\varkappa =0`$. At $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1=\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2=0`$, it appears to be a straight line parallel to the coordinate axis, $`\rho _t=7/18`$. However, the inclusion of electroweak interactions leads to a monotonic decrease in $`\rho _t(t)`$ with increasing $`\rho _\varkappa (t)`$. In the vicinity of the stable infrared fixed point for $`tt_c`$, the equation for this line has the form

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill \rho _t(t)& =\frac{7}{18}\frac{7}{4}\rho _2(t)\frac{91}{180}\rho _1(t)\hfill \\ \hfill \rho _\varkappa (t)& =\frac{1}{6\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)t}.\hfill \end{array}$$
(12)
Apart from the replacement of $`\rho _\varkappa `$ by $`\rho _\lambda `$, the same infrared fixed lines are involved in the analysis of renormalization group equations within the NMSSM in the case where $`\varkappa =0`$. As before, the invariant line that connects the stable fixed points $`\rho _\lambda /\rho _t=1`$ and $`\rho _t=7/18,\rho _\lambda =0`$ attracts most strongly solutions to the renormalization group equations. Nevertheless, the asymptotic behaviour of the curve being studied changes for $`\rho _\lambda ,\rho _t1`$, where it becomes

$$\rho _\lambda =\rho _t\frac{8}{15}\frac{2}{75}\rho _1,$$
(13)
and in the vicinity of the point $`\rho _t=7/18,\rho _\lambda =0`$, where we have $`\rho _\lambda (\rho _t7/18)^{25/14}`$. In analysing the behaviour of solutions to the renormalization group equations, the other two invariant lines have but a marginal effect. One of these is specified by the equations $`\rho _\lambda =0`$. The second connects the unstable fixed point in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, $`\rho _t/\rho _\lambda =0`$, with the stable infrared point, near which we have $`\rho _\lambda (7/18\rho _t)^{25/18}`$.

## 4 Invariant and Hill surfaces

In a more complicated case where all three Yukawa coupling constants in the NMSSM are nonzero, analysis of the set of renormalization group equations presents a much more difficult problem. In particular, invariant (infrared fixed) and Hill surfaces come to the fore instead of the infrared fixed and quasi–fixed lines. For each fixed set of values of the coupling constants $`Y_t(t_0)`$ and $`Y_\varkappa (t_0)`$, an upper limit on $`Y_\lambda (t_0)`$ can be obtained from the requirement that perturbation theory be applicable up to the Grand Unification scale $`M_X`$. A change in the values of the Yukawa coupling constants $`h_t`$ and $`\varkappa `$ at the electroweak scale leads to a growth or a reduction of the upper limit on $`Y_\lambda (t_0)`$. The resulting surface in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa ,\rho _\lambda )`$ space is shown in Figs. 5a and 5b. In the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, solutions to the renormalization group equations are concentrated near this surface. In just the same way as in the case of $`Y_\varkappa =0`$, a specific linear combination of $`Y_t`$, $`Y_\lambda `$, and $`Y_\varkappa `$ is virtually independent of the initial conditions for $`Y_i(0)\mathrm{}`$:

$$\rho _t(t_0)+0.72\rho _\lambda (t_0)+0.33\rho _\varkappa (t_0)=0.98.$$
(14)
For $`2h_t^2(0),\varkappa ^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)10`$, this combination of the coupling constants, $`h_t^2(t_0)+0.72\lambda ^2(t_0)+0.33\varkappa ^2(t_0)`$, ranges between $`1.35`$ and $`1.40`$; at the same time, we have $`1.058h_t^2(t_0)1.219`$, $`0.032\varkappa ^2(t_0)0.296`$, $`0.098\lambda ^2(t_0)0.401`$ (see Table). The evolution of $`\rho _t(t)+0.72\rho _\lambda (t)+0.33\rho _\varkappa (t)`$ at various initial values of the Yukawa coupling constants is illustrated in Fig. 6.

On the Hill surface, the region that is depicted in Fig. 5 and near which the solutions in question are grouped shrinks in one direction with increasing initial values of the Yukawa coupling constants, with the result that, at $`Y_t(0)`$, $`Y_\varkappa (0)`$, and $`Y_\lambda (0)1`$, all solutions are grouped around the line that appears as the result of intersection of the quasi–fixed surface and the infrared fixed surface, which includes the invariant lines lying in the $`\rho _\varkappa =0`$ and $`\rho _\lambda =0`$ planes and connecting the stable infrared point with, respectively, the fixed point $`\rho _\lambda /\rho _t=1`$ and the fixed point $`\rho _\varkappa /\rho _t=1`$ in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling. In the limit $`\rho _t,\rho _\lambda ,\rho _\varkappa 1`$, in which case the gauge coupling constants can be disregarded, the fixed points $`\rho _\lambda /\rho _t=1,\rho _\varkappa /\rho _t=0`$ and $`\rho _\varkappa \rho _t=1,\rho _\lambda /\rho _t=0`$ cease to be stable. Instead of them, the stable fixed point $`R_\lambda =3/4,R_\varkappa =3/8`$  appears in the $`(R_\lambda ,R_\varkappa )`$ plane, where $`R_\lambda =\rho _\lambda /\rho _t`$ and $`R_\varkappa =\rho _\varkappa /\rho _t`$. In order to investigate the behaviour of the solutions to the renormalization group equations within the NMSSM, it is necessary to linearise the set of these equations in its vicinity and set $`\alpha _i=0`$. As a result, we obtain

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill R_\lambda (t)=& \frac{3}{4}+\left(\frac{1}{2}R_{\lambda 0}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}R_{\varkappa 0}\frac{3(\sqrt{5}+1)}{8\sqrt{5}}\right)\left(\frac{\rho _t(t)}{\rho _{t0}}\right)^{\lambda _1}\hfill \\ & +\left(\frac{1}{2}R_{\lambda 0}\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}R_{\varkappa 0}\frac{3(\sqrt{5}1)}{8\sqrt{5}}\right)\left(\frac{\rho _t(t)}{\rho _{t0}}\right)^{\lambda _2},\hfill \\ \hfill R_\varkappa (t)=& \frac{3}{8}+\frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}R_{\lambda 0}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}R_{\varkappa 0}\frac{3(\sqrt{5}+1)}{8\sqrt{5}}\right)\left(\frac{\rho _t(t)}{\rho _{t0}}\right)^{\lambda _1}\hfill \\ & \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\left(\frac{1}{2}R_{\lambda 0}\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}R_{\varkappa 0}\frac{3(\sqrt{5}1)}{8\sqrt{5}}\right)\left(\frac{\rho _t(t)}{\rho _{t0}}\right)^{\lambda _2},\hfill \end{array}$$
(15)
where $`R_{\lambda 0}=R_\lambda (0)`$, $`R_{\varkappa 0}=R_\varkappa (0)`$, $`\rho _{t0}=\rho _t(0)`$, $`\lambda _1={\displaystyle \frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{9}}`$, $`\lambda _2={\displaystyle \frac{3\sqrt{5}}{9}}`$, and $`\rho _t(t)={\displaystyle \frac{\rho _{t0}}{1+7\rho _{t0}t}}`$. From (15), it follows that the fixed point $`R_\lambda =3/4,R_\varkappa =3/8`$ arises as the result of intersection of two fixed lines in the $`(R_\lambda ,R_\varkappa )`$ plane. The solutions are attracted most strongly to the line $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}R_\lambda +{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}}R_\varkappa ={\displaystyle \frac{3}{8}}\left(1+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}}\right)`$, since $`\lambda _1\lambda _2`$. This line passes through three fixed points in the $`(R_\lambda ,R_\varkappa )`$ plane: $`(1,0)`$, $`(3/4,3/8)`$, and $`(0,1)`$. In the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, the fixed line that corresponds, in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa ,\rho _\lambda )`$ space, to the line mentioned immediately above is that which lies on the invariant surface containing a stable infrared fixed point. The line of intersection of the Hill and the invariant surface can be obtained by mapping this fixed line into the quasi–fixed surface with the aid of the set of renormalization group equations. For the boundary conditions, one must than use the values $`\lambda ^2(0)`$, $`\varkappa ^2(0)`$, and $`h_t^2(0)1`$ belonging to the aforementioned fixed line.

In just the same way as infrared fixed lines, the infrared fixed surface is invariant under renormalization group transformations. In the evolution process, solutions to the set of renormalization group equations within the NMSSM are attracted to this surface. If boundary conditions are specified n the fixed surface, the ensuing evolution of the coupling constants proceeds within this surface. To add further details, we not that, near the surface being studied and on it, the solutions are attracted to the invariant line connecting the stable fixed point $`(\rho _\lambda /\rho _t=3/4,\rho _\varkappa /\rho _t=3/8)`$ in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling with the stable infrared fixed point within the NMSSM. In the limit $`\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa ,\rho _\lambda 1`$, the equation for this line has the form

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill \rho _\lambda & =\frac{3}{4}\rho _t\frac{176}{417}+\frac{3}{139}\rho _2\frac{7}{417}\rho _1,\hfill \\ \hfill \rho _\varkappa & =\frac{3}{8}\rho _t\frac{56}{417}\frac{18}{139}\rho _2\frac{68}{2085}\rho _1.\hfill \end{array}$$
(16)
As one approaches the infrared fixed point, the quantities $`\rho _\lambda `$ and $`\rho _\varkappa `$ tend to zero: $`\rho _\lambda (\rho _t7/18)^{25/14}`$ and $`\rho _\varkappa (\rho _t7/18)^{9/7}`$. This line intersects the quasi–fixed surface at the point

$$\rho _t^{\text{QFP}}(t_0)=0.82,\rho _\varkappa ^{\text{QFP}}(t_0)=0.087,\rho _\lambda ^{\text{QFP}}(t_0)=0.178.$$

Since all solutions are concentrated in the vicinity of this point for $`Y_t(0),Y_\lambda (0),Y_\varkappa (0)\mathrm{}`$, it should be considered as a quasi–fixed point for the set of renormalization group equations within the NMSSM. We note, however, that the solutions are attracted to the invariant line (16) and to the quasi–fixed line on the Hill surface. This conclusion can be drawn from the an analysis of the behaviour of the solutions near the fixed point $`(R_\lambda =3/4,R_\varkappa =3/8)`$ (see Eq.(15)). Once the solutions have approached the invariant line $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}R_\lambda +{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}}R_\varkappa ={\displaystyle \frac{3}{8}}\left(1+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}}\right)`$, their evolution is governed by the expression $`(ϵ(t))^{0.085}`$, where $`ϵ(t)=\rho _t(t)/\rho _{t0}`$. This means that the solutions begin to be attracted to the quasi–fixed point and to the invariant line (16) with a sizable strength only when $`Y_i(0)`$ reaches a value of $`10^2`$, at which perturbation theory is obviously inapplicable. Thus, it is not the infrared quasi–fixed point but the quasi–fixed line on the Hill surface (see Fig. 5) that, within the NMSSM, plays a key role in analysing the behaviour of the solutions to the renormalization group equations in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, where all $`Y_i(0)`$ are much greater than $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)`$.

Along with the invariant surface, which was studied in detail above, at least three infrared fixed surfaces exist in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa ,\rho _\lambda )`$ space. They attract solutions to the renormalization group equations much more weakly. Two of these are specified by the equations $`\rho _\lambda `$ and $`\rho _\varkappa =0`$. Yet another infrared fixed surface can be found by analysing the behaviour of the solutions in question near the stable infrared fixed point. Integrating the linearised renormalisation group equations, we obtain

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill \rho _t(t)=& \frac{7}{18}+\left(\rho _{t0}^{}\frac{7}{33}\rho _{\lambda 0}+\frac{7}{4}\rho _{20}+\frac{91}{180}\rho _{10}\frac{7}{18}\right)\left(\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{30}}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)}\right)^{7/9}\hfill \\ & +\frac{7}{33}\rho _\lambda (t)\frac{7}{4}\rho _2(t)\frac{91}{180}\rho _1(t),\hfill \\ \hfill \rho _\lambda (t)=& \rho _{\lambda 0}\left(\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{30}}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)}\right)^{25/18},\hfill \\ \hfill \rho _\varkappa (t)=& \rho _{\varkappa 0}\left(\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{30}}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)}\right),\hfill \end{array}$$
(17)
where $`\rho _{t0}^{}`$, $`\rho _{i0}`$, and $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{30}`$ are constants of integration. In the limiting case of $`\rho _1=\rho _2=0`$, the equation of a nontrivial invariant surface is $`\rho _t={\displaystyle \frac{7}{18}}+{\displaystyle \frac{7}{33}}\rho _\lambda `$. This surface contains nontrivial infrared fixed lines that lie in the $`\rho _\lambda =0`$ and $`\rho _\varkappa =0`$ planes and which weakly attract solutions to the renormalization group equations. The inclusion of electroweak interactions significantly modifies the asymptotic behaviour of this surface near the infrared fixed point. Nonetheless, a solution to the linearised equations (17) does not fix unambiguously an equations for this surface. Considering that, at $`\rho _\lambda =0`$, the equation of the surface being studied must reduce to the equation for the invariant line (12), we find, for $`tt_c`$, that

$$\rho _t=\frac{7}{18}+\frac{7}{33}\rho _\lambda 6t_c\left(\frac{7}{4}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t_c)+\frac{91}{180}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t_c)\right)\rho _\varkappa .$$
(18)
Relation (18) between $`\rho _t`$, $`\rho _\lambda `$, and $`\rho _\varkappa `$ is valid for $`\rho _\varkappa \rho _\lambda `$. By analysing the behaviour of the solutions in the vicinity of the stable infrared point (17), it can be shown that the invariant surface (18) plays a secondary role in the NMSSM.

## 5 Approximate solutions for the Yukawa couplings

By way of example, the emergence of quasi–fixed lines and surfaces within the NMSSM can be traced by considering approximate solutions to the renormalisation group equations from the Appendix. Recently, approximate solutions of this type were studied within the minimal SUSY model for $`\mathrm{tan}\beta 1`$ , in which case $`Y_tY_bY_\tau `$. In the regime of strong Yukawa coupling within the nonminimal SUSY model, these solutions are given by

$`\rho _t(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{E_t(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)\left[6F_t(t)(6F_t(t)+2R_{\lambda 0}F_\lambda (t))\right]^{1/2}}}+O\left({\displaystyle \frac{1}{Y_t(0)}}\right)+\mathrm{},`$
$`\rho _\lambda (t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{R_{\lambda 0}E_\lambda (t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)\left(6R_{\lambda 0}F_\lambda (t)+6R_{\varkappa 0}t\right)^{1/3}\left(6R_{\lambda 0}F_\lambda (t)\right)^{1/6}\left(6F_t(t)+2R_{\lambda 0}F_\lambda (t)\right)^{1/2}}}`$ (19)
$`+O\left({\displaystyle \frac{1}{Y_t(0)}}\right)+\mathrm{},`$
$`\rho _\varkappa (t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{R_{\varkappa 0}}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)\left(6R_{\lambda 0}F_\lambda (t)+6R_{\varkappa 0}t\right)}}+O\left({\displaystyle \frac{1}{Y_t(0)}}\right)+\mathrm{},`$
where the expressions for the functions $`E_i(t)`$ and $`F_i(t)`$ are presented in the Appendix. Expressions (19) for $`\rho _i(t)`$ were formally obtained by expanding approximate solutions in a power series in $`1/Y_t(0)`$. Each subsequent term in such an expansion is always much less than the preceding one because, in the approximate solutions, the Yukawa coupling constant for the $`t`$–quark always appears in the form of the combination $`Y_t(0)F_t(t)`$, which, in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, leads to values $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{Y_t(0)F_t(t)}}1`$ at $`tt_0`$. From relations (19), it follows that, to $`O(1/Y_t(0))`$ terms, solutions to the renormalisation group equations depend only on the ratios of the Yukawa coupling constants $`R_{\lambda 0}`$ and $`R_{\varkappa 0}`$ at the Grand Unification scale. Setting $`t=t_0`$, we obtain a surface in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa ,\rho _\lambda )`$ space. This surface is specified parametrically; that is, $`\rho _i=G_i(R_{\lambda 0},R_{\varkappa 0})`$. Deviations from it are determined by $`O(1/Y_t(0))`$ terms, which are negative and small in magnitude in the limit of strong Yukawa coupling.

However, the approximate solutions (19) poorly describe the evolution of $`\rho _\varkappa (t)`$.By way of example, we indicate that, at the electroweak scale, the relative error is about $`20\%`$ at $`\varkappa ^2(t_0)0.1`$. This is due above all to the fact that the self-interaction constant for the scalar field $`Y`$ is not renormalised by gauge interactions. The grater the contribution of gauge interactions to the renormalisation of Yukawa coupling constants, the higher the accuracy to which the approximate solutions describe their evolution. For example, the relative error in $`\rho _t(t_0)`$ ($`\rho _\lambda (t_0)`$) is $`23\%`$ (about $`56\%`$) at $`Y_t(0)Y_\varkappa (0)Y_\lambda (0)`$.

An approximate solution for $`Y_\varkappa =0`$ and $`Y_t(0),Y_\lambda (0)\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(0)`$ can be obtained by setting $`R_{\varkappa 0}=0`$ in Eqs.(19). In the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, $`\rho _t(t)`$ and $`\rho _\lambda (t)`$ then depend only on $`R_{\lambda 0}`$, with the result that, in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane, there arises, at $`t=t_0`$, the Hill line

$$\rho _t^2+\frac{1}{3}\left(\frac{E_t(t_0)}{E_\lambda (t_0)}\right)^2\left(\frac{F_\lambda (t_0)}{F_t(t_0)}\right)^2\rho _\lambda ^2=\rho _{\text{QFP}}^2,$$
(20)
where $`\rho _{\text{QFP}}={\displaystyle \frac{E_t(t_0)}{6F_t(t_0)\alpha _3(t_0)}}`$. With increasing initial values of the Yukawa coupling constants, $`O(1/Y_t(0))`$ terms, which determine the deviation of the solutions in question from the quasi–fixed line (20), decrease, so that the approximate solutions to the renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM are attracted to this line. The explicit form of the dependences $`\rho _\lambda (t)`$ and $`\rho _t(t)`$ in (19) makes it possible to find that the invariant line lying in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane and corresponding to $`R_{\lambda 0}=1`$ can be approximately parametrised as

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill \rho _t(t)& =\frac{E_t(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)\left[6F_t(t)(6F_t(t)+2F_\lambda (t))\right]^{1/2}}\hfill \\ \hfill \rho _\lambda (t)& =\frac{E_\lambda (t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)\left[6F_\lambda (t)\left(6F_t(t)+2F_\lambda (t)\right)\right]^{1/2}}.\hfill \end{array}$$
(21)
The values $`\rho _t(t_0)`$ and $`\rho _\lambda (t_0)`$ as calculated by formulas (21) are the coordinates of the point where the Hill fixed line (20) intersects the infrared fixed line (21), which appears to be a quasi–fixed point for the set of renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM. Our numerical results, which are displayed in Fig. 7, demonstrate that relations (20) and (21) reproduce quite accurately the quasi–fixed and the invariant line at $`R_{\lambda 0}1`$. Significant deviations are observed only in the infrared region ($`tt_c`$) and for $`R_{\lambda 0}1`$. In general, the relative deviation of the approximate solution in question from the exact one is $`56\%`$ at $`\rho _\varkappa =0`$ and $`R_{\lambda 0}1`$ and grows fast with increasing $`\rho _\lambda /\rho _t`$.

## 6 Unification of the Yukawa couplings $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$

As was indicated above, Grand Unification Theory imposes additional constraints on the parameter space of SUSY models. Among such constraints, the unification of the Yukawa coupling constants for the $`b`$–quark and the $`\tau `$–lepton at the scale $`M_X`$ is worthy of note above all. In the nonminimal SUSY model, $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$ are unified if the constants $`Y_t`$, $`Y_\lambda `$, and $`Y_\varkappa `$ satisfy the relations:

$$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill \frac{Y_t(0)}{Y_t(t_0)}& =\left[\frac{R_{b\tau }(0)}{R_{b\tau }(t_0)}\right]^{\frac{21}{2}}\left[\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t_0)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(0)}\right]^{\frac{68}{9}}\left[\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t_0)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(0)}\right]^{\frac{9}{4}}\left[\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t_0)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(0)}\right]^{\frac{463}{396}}\left[\frac{Y_\lambda (0)}{Y_\lambda (t_0)}\right]^{\frac{1}{4}},\hfill \\ \hfill \frac{Y_t(0)}{Y_t(t_0)}& =\left[\frac{R_{b\tau }(0)}{R_{b\tau }(t_0)}\right]^9\left[\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t_0)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(0)}\right]^{\frac{56}{9}}\left[\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t_0)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(0)}\right]^{\frac{3}{2}}\left[\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t_0)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(0)}\right]^{\frac{197}{198}}\left[\frac{Y_\lambda (0)}{Y_\lambda (t_0)}\right]^{\frac{1}{2}}\left[\frac{Y_\varkappa (t_0)}{Y_\varkappa (0)}\right]^{\frac{1}{6}},\hfill \end{array}$$
(22)
where $`R_{b\tau }(t_0)=m_b(t_0)/m_\tau (t_0)`$ is the ratio of the running masses of the $`b`$–quark and the $`\tau `$–lepton at the electroweak scale; in the minimal unification schemes we have $`R_{b\tau }(0)=\sqrt{{\displaystyle \frac{Y_b(0)}{Y_\tau (0)}}}=1`$. The equation determining the function $`R_{b\tau }(t)`$ is presented in the Appendix (see Eq.(25)). The first relation in (22) corresponds to the case of $`\varkappa =0`$, whereas the second implies a $`\varkappa `$ value different from zero. Relations (22) can be obtained by directly integrating the renormalisation group equations. Setting $`R_{b\tau }(t_0)=1.61`$, which corresponds to $`m_b(t_0)=2.86\text{ GeV}`$ and $`m_\tau (t_0)=1.78\text{ GeV}`$, we find, for the ratio of the Yukawa coupling constants for the $`t`$–quark, that

$$\frac{Y_t(0)}{Y_t(t_0)}3.67\left[\frac{Y_\lambda (0)}{Y_\lambda (t_0)}\right]^{1/4},\frac{Y_t(0)}{Y_t(t_0)}2.57\left[\frac{Y_\lambda (0)}{Y_\lambda (t_0)}\right]^{1/2}\left[\frac{Y_\varkappa (t_0)}{Y_\varkappa (0)}\right]^{1/6}.$$
(23)
The second equation in (23) – it relates $`Y_t`$, $`Y_\lambda `$, and $`Y_\varkappa `$ – determines a surface in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda ,\rho _\varkappa )`$ space; at $`Y_\varkappa =0`$, this surface degenerates into a line in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane. In this case, $`b\tau `$ unification is possible under the condition $`Y_t(0)Y_t(t_0)`$, which is realised only in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling within the NMSSM. In the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane, Fig. 8 shows the Hill line and the curve that corresponds to $`Y_b(0)=Y_\tau (0)`$. As might have been expected, the spacing between them is quite small. In addition, we note that only at sufficiently large values of the $`t`$–quark Yukawa coupling constant at the electroweak scale, $`Y_t(t_0)>Y_t^0`$, is $`b\tau `$ unification possible. A lower limit on the $`Y_t(t_0)`$ implies that there exists an upper limit on $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ (see Eq.(1)). By varying the running $`b`$–quark mass $`m_b(m_b)`$ from 4.1 to 4.4 GeV, we found that only for $`\mathrm{tan}\beta 2`$ can the equality of the Yukawa coupling constants at the Grand Unification scale be achieved. The possibility of unifying the Yukawa coupling constants within the NMSSM was investigated in detail elsewhere . The condition $`Y_b(0)=Y_\tau (0)`$ imposes stringent constraints on the parameter space of the model being studied. Since $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$ are small in magnitude at $`\mathrm{tan}\beta 1`$, they can be generated, however, at the Grand Unification scale owing to unrenormalised operators upon a spontaneous breakdown of symmetry, in which case $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$ can take different values.

## 7 Conclusion

The present analysis has revealed that, in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, solutions to the renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM, $`Y_i(t)`$, are attracted to quasi–fixed lines and surfaces in the space of Yukawa coupling constants and that specific combinations $`\rho _i(t)`$ are virtually independent of their initial values at the Grand Unification scale. It is for $`Y_i(0)\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(0)`$ that the upper limit on the mass of the lightest Higgs boson attains its maximum value. It has also been proven that, in the limit being considered, the values of the constants $`h_t`$, $`\lambda `$, and $`\varkappa `$ can be chosen in such a way as to ensure unification of the Yukawa coupling constants for the $`b`$–quark and $`\tau `$–lepton at the scale $`M_X`$, a feature usually inherent in Grand Unified Theories. For $`Y_i(0)\mathrm{}`$, all solution to the renormalisation group equations are concentrated near quasi–fixed points. These points emerge as the result of intersection of Hill lines or surfaces with the invariant line that connects the stable fixed point for $`Y_i\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i`$ with the stable infrared fixed point. For the renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM, we have listed all the most important invariant lines and surfaces and studied their asymptotic behaviour for $`Y_i\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i`$ and in the vicinity of the infrared fixed point.

With increasing $`Y_i(0)`$, the solutions in question approach quasi–fixed points quite slowly; that is, the deviation is proportional to $`(ϵ_t(t))^\delta `$, where $`ϵ_t(t)=Y_t(t)/Y_t(0)`$ and $`\delta `$ is calculated by analysing the set of the renormalisation group equations in the regime of strong Yukawa coupling. As a rule, $`\delta `$ is positive and much less than unity. By way of example, we indicate that, in the case where all three Yukawa coupling constants differ from zero, $`\delta 0.085`$. Of greatest importance in analysing the behaviour of solutions to the renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM at $`Y_t(0),Y_\lambda (0),Y_\varkappa (0)1`$ is therefore not the infrared quasi–fixed point but the line lying on the Hill surface and emerging as the intersection of the Hill and invariant surface. This line can be obtained by mapping the fixed points $`(1,0)`$, $`(3/4,3/8)`$, and $`(0,1)`$ in the $`(R_\lambda ,R_\varkappa )`$ plane for $`Y_i\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i`$ into the quasi–fixed surface by means of renormalisation group equations.

The emergence of Hill lines and surfaces in the space of Yukawa coupling constants can be traced by considering the examples of approximate solutions that are presented in the Appendix. These solutions lead to qualitatively correct results. However, the approximate solutions poorly describe the evolution of $`Y_\varkappa (t)`$, since the neutral field $`Y`$ is not renormalised by gauge interactions. At the same time, it has been shown that, at $`Y_t(0)Y_\lambda (0)`$, the relative deviation of the approximate solution from the exact one is as small as $`23\%`$ in $`Y_t(t_0)`$ and about $`56\%`$ in $`Y_\lambda (t_0)`$. With increasing $`Y_\lambda (t_0)/Y_t(t_0)`$, such relative deviations grow quite fast.

## Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to M.I.Vysotsky, D.I.Kazakov, and K.A.Ter-Martirosyan for stimulating questions, valuable discussions, and enlightening comments. R.B.Nevzorov is indebted to Insituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (Sezione di Ferrara) for the kind hospitality extended to him.

This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), projects ## 98-02-17372, 98-02-17453, 96-15-96578, 96-15-96740; by INTAS, project # 93-3316-Ext.; by a joint RFBR–INTAS grant # 95-0567.

## Appendix

Set of the renormalisation group equations of the NMSSM for the Yukawa couplings and an approximate solution to it.

In the present study we have analysed the one–loop renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM. These equations can be represented as :

$`{\displaystyle \frac{d\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i}{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`b_i\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i^2,`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{dY_t}{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`Y_t(Y_\lambda +6Y_t{\displaystyle \frac{16}{3}}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_33\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2{\displaystyle \frac{13}{15}}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1),`$ (24)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{dY_\lambda }{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`Y_\lambda (4Y_\lambda +2Y_\varkappa +3Y_t3\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2{\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1),`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{dY_\varkappa }{dt}}`$ $`=`$ $`6Y_\varkappa (Y_\lambda +Y_\varkappa ).`$
On the right–hand sides of these differential equations we have discarded terms proportional to the Yukawa couplings $`Y_b`$ and $`Y_\tau `$, since their contribution at $`\mathrm{tan}\beta 10`$ is negligibly small. The index $`i`$ runs through the values from 1 and 3, $`b_1={\displaystyle \frac{33}{5}}`$, $`b_2=1`$, $`b_3=3`$, $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(t)={\displaystyle \frac{\alpha _i(t)}{4\pi }}=\left({\displaystyle \frac{g_i(t)}{4\pi }}\right)^2`$, $`Y_t(t)=\left({\displaystyle \frac{h_t(t)}{4\pi }}\right)^2`$, $`Y_\lambda (t)=\left({\displaystyle \frac{\lambda (t)}{4\pi }}\right)^2`$, and $`Y_\varkappa (t)=\left({\displaystyle \frac{\varkappa (t)}{4\pi }}\right)^2`$. The variable $`t`$ is defined in a standard way: $`t=\mathrm{ln}\left({\displaystyle \frac{M_X^2}{Q^2}}\right)`$, where $`M_X=310^{16}\text{ GeV}`$.

In analysing $`b\tau `$ unification, use was made of the evolution equation for the ratio $`R_{b\tau }(t)=\sqrt{{\displaystyle \frac{Y_b(t)}{Y_\tau (t)}}}`$ of the Yukawa couplings for the $`b`$–quark and the $`\tau `$–lepton,

$$\frac{dR_{b\tau }}{dt}=R_{b\tau }\left(\frac{1}{2}Y_t\frac{8}{3}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3+\frac{2}{3}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1\right),$$
(25)
where $`Y_b=\left({\displaystyle \frac{h_b(t)}{4\pi }}\right)^2`$ and $`Y_\tau (t)=\left({\displaystyle \frac{h_\tau (t)}{4\pi }}\right)^2`$. The value of $`R_{b\tau }(0)=1`$ corresponds to the unification of the Yukawa couplings $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$. For the Yukawa and gauge couplings the set of two–loop renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM is presented in .

The corresponding one–loop equations for the gauge couplings can easily be integrated. The result has the form:

$$\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(t)=\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(0)}{1+b_i\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(0)t}.$$
(26)
Since the gauge couplings within the MSSM and within the NMSSM coincide at the Grand Unification scale, we have $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_i(0)=\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)=\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_{\text{GUT}}`$ for all of them. In the case where $`\lambda =0`$, there exists an exact analytic solution to the set of renormalisation group equations (24). It is specified by relations (2) and (8), with $`E(t)`$ and $`F(t)`$ being given by

$`H(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{16}{3}}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)+3\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t)+{\displaystyle \frac{13}{15}}\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t),`$
$`E(t)`$ $`=`$ $`\mathrm{exp}\left[{\displaystyle \underset{0}{\overset{t}{}}}H(t^{})𝑑t^{}\right]=\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_3(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)}}\right]^{16/9}\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)}}\right]^3\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)}}\right]^{13/99},`$ (27)
$`F(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \underset{0}{\overset{t}{}}}E(t^{})𝑑t^{}.`$
In the regime of strong Yukawa coupling, in which case all $`Y_i(0)`$ are much greater than $`\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)`$, an exact analytic solution to the set of Eqs.(24) has not yet been found. An explicit $`t`$ dependence of the Yukawa couplings can be obtained on the basis of an approximate solution to the renormalisation group equations within the NMSSM. An approximate solution of this type was first obtained by Kazakov , who studied the renormalisation group equations within the MSSM in the limit $`\mathrm{tan}\beta 1`$. For the Yukawa couplings, it has the form:

$`Y_\lambda (t)`$ $`=`$ $`Y_\lambda (0)E_\lambda (t)P_2(t)P_1(t)P_Y(t),`$
$`Y_\varkappa (t)`$ $`=`$ $`Y_\varkappa (0)P_Y^3(t),`$ (28)
$`Y_t(t)`$ $`=`$ $`Y_t(0)E_t(t)P_Q(t)P_U(t)P_2(t),`$
where

$$E_t(t)=E(t),E_\lambda (t)=\left(\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_2(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)}\right)^3\left(\frac{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }_1(t)}{\stackrel{~}{\alpha }(0)}\right)^{1/11},$$

and $`P_i(t)`$ is the contribution of the Yukawa couplings to the renormalisation of $`Y_i(t)`$ from each of the external legs entering the corresponding vertex:

$$\begin{array}{c}\frac{d\mathrm{ln}P_Q(t)}{dt}=\frac{1}{2}\frac{d\mathrm{ln}P_U(t)}{dt}=Y_t(t),\frac{d\mathrm{ln}P_2(t)}{dt}=3Y_t(t)Y_\lambda (t),\\ \frac{d\mathrm{ln}P_1(t)}{dt}=Y_\lambda (t),\frac{d\mathrm{ln}P_Y(t)}{dt}=2Y_\lambda (t)2Y_\varkappa (t).\end{array}$$
(29)
Setting $`P_Q(t)P_U(t)P_2(t)P_2(t)P_1(t)P_Y(t)P_Y^3(t)P_0(t)`$ and $`P_Q^A(t)P_U^B(t)P_2^{C_2}(t)P_1^{C_1}(t)P_Y^D(t)P_0(t)`$, we find that $`A`$, $`B`$, $`C_1`$, $`C_2`$, and $`D`$ satisfy the relations:

$$\frac{1}{A}+\frac{1}{B}+\frac{1}{C_2}=1,\frac{1}{D}+\frac{1}{C_1}+\frac{1}{C_2}=1,D=3.$$

Since the contribution of the $`t`$–quark Yukawa coupling to the renormalisation of external legs is much greater than the contribution of $`Y_\lambda `$, the constants $`A`$, $`B`$, and $`C_2`$ also satisfy the approximate relations $`BA/2`$ and $`C_2A/3`$, which make it possible to find, for $`A`$, $`B`$, $`C_1`$, and $`C_2`$, that

$$A=C_1=6,B=3,C_2=2$$

and to obtain, with the aid of the differential equations (29) for $`P_i(t)`$, approximate solutions for the latter quantities. The results are

$`P_U(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{(1+6Y_t(0)F_t(t))^{1/3}}}=P_Q^2(t),`$
$`P_{H_2}(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{(1+6Y_t(0)F_t(t)+2Y_\lambda (0)F_\lambda (t))^{1/2}}},`$ (30)
$`P_{H_1}(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{(1+6Y_\lambda (0)F_\lambda (t))^{1/6}}},`$
$`P_Y(t)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{(1+6Y_\lambda (0)F_\lambda (t)+6Y_\varkappa (0)t)^{1/3}}},`$
where

$$F_t(t)=F(t),F_\lambda (t)=_0^tE_\lambda (t^{})𝑑t^{}.$$

Substituting the resulting expressions (30) for $`P_i(t)`$ into relations (28), we obtain approximate solutions for the Yukawa couplings within the NMSSM. In just the same way, we can find approximate solutions for $`Y_t(t)`$ and $`Y_\lambda (t)`$ at $`\varkappa =0`$. As a result, it can easily be proven that the required solutions are obtained by setting $`Y_\varkappa (0)=0`$ in (28) and (30).

Table. Values of the Yukawa couplings at the electroweak scale for various initial values $`\varkappa ^2(0)`$, $`\lambda ^2(0)`$, and $`h_t^2(0)`$.

| $`\varkappa ^2(0)`$ | $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ | $`h_t^2(0)`$ | $`\varkappa ^2(t_0)`$ | $`\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ | $`h_t^2(t_0)`$ | $`h_t^2(t_0)+0.51\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ | $`h_t^2(t_0)+0.72\lambda ^2(t_0)`$ |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $`+0.33\varkappa ^2(t_0)`$ |
| 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0.3220 | 1.1538 | 1.3180 | 1.3857 |
| 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.2879 | 1.1675 | 1.3143 | 1.3747 |
| 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0.1911 | 1.1987 | 1.2962 | 1.3363 |
| 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.3492 | 1.1327 | 1.3108 | 1.3841 |
| 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0.3167 | 1.1475 | 1.3090 | 1.3755 |
| 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.2203 | 1.1815 | 1.2939 | 1.3402 |
| 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0.4209 | 1.0513 | 1.2659 | 1.3543 |
| 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0.3901 | 1.0715 | 1.2704 | 1.3524 |
| 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.2941 | 1.1160 | 1.2660 | 1.3277 |
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.1480 | 0.2480 | 1.1737 | 1.3002 | 1.4011 |
| 10 | 6 | 10 | 0.1995 | 0.1969 | 1.1904 | 1.2908 | 1.3980 |
| 10 | 2 | 10 | 0.2956 | 0.0979 | 1.2193 | 1.2692 | 1.3874 |
| 10 | 10 | 6 | 0.1256 | 0.2801 | 1.1527 | 1.2956 | 1.3958 |
| 10 | 6 | 6 | 0.1760 | 0.2279 | 1.1712 | 1.2875 | 1.3934 |
| 10 | 2 | 6 | 0.2785 | 0.1192 | 1.2047 | 1.2655 | 1.3825 |
| 10 | 10 | 2 | 0.0865 | 0.3601 | 1.0734 | 1.2570 | 1.3612 |
| 10 | 6 | 2 | 0.1305 | 0.3060 | 1.0984 | 1.2545 | 1.3618 |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 0.2385 | 0.1775 | 1.1458 | 1.2363 | 1.3523 |
| 2 | 10 | 10 | 0.0655 | 0.2941 | 1.1608 | 1.3108 | 1.3942 |
| 2 | 6 | 10 | 0.1055 | 0.2482 | 1.1767 | 1.3033 | 1.3903 |
| 2 | 2 | 10 | 0.2059 | 0.1396 | 1.2092 | 1.2804 | 1.3777 |
| 2 | 10 | 6 | 0.0521 | 0.3244 | 1.1395 | 1.3049 | 1.3903 |
| 2 | 6 | 6 | 0.0875 | 0.2798 | 1.1567 | 1.2994 | 1.3870 |
| 2 | 2 | 6 | 0.1865 | 0.1663 | 1.1929 | 1.2778 | 1.3742 |
| 2 | 10 | 2 | 0.0322 | 0.4007 | 1.0582 | 1.2625 | 1.3573 |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 0.0578 | 0.3581 | 1.0810 | 1.2637 | 1.3580 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.1464 | 0.2361 | 1.1297 | 1.2501 | 1.3480 |

## Figure captions

Fig.1. Boundary conditions for the renormalisation group equations of the NMSSM at the scale $`q=M_X`$ for $`\varkappa ^2=0`$ uniformly distributed in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane in a square $`2h_t^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)10`$ – Fig.1a, and the corresponding values of the Yukawa couplings at the electroweak scale – Fig.1b. The thick and thin curves in Fig.1b represent, respectively, the invariant and the Hill line. The dashed line in Fig.1b is a fit of the values $`(\rho _t(t_0),\rho _\lambda (t_0))`$ for $`20h_t^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)100`$.

Fig.2. Boundary conditions for the renormalisation group equations of the NMSSM at the scale $`q=M_X`$ for $`\varkappa ^2=0`$ uniformly distributed in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane in a square $`20h_t^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)100`$ – Fig.2a, and the corresponding values of the Yukawa couplings at the electroweak scale – Fig.2b. The thick and thin curves in Fig.2b represent, respectively, the invariant and the Hill line. The dashed line in Fig.2b is a fit of the values $`(\rho _t(t_0),\rho _\lambda (t_0))`$ for $`20h_t^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)100`$.

Fig.3. Evolution of the combination $`\rho _t(t)+0.506\rho _\lambda (t)`$ of the Yukawa couplings from the Grand Unification scale ($`t=0`$) to the electroweak scale ($`t=t_0`$) for $`\varkappa ^2=0`$ and for various initial values $`h_t^2(0)`$ – Fig.3a, $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ – Fig.3b.

Fig.4. Boundary conditions for the renormalisation group equations of the NMSSM at the scale $`q=M_X`$ for $`\lambda ^2=0`$ uniformly distributed in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa )`$ plane in a square $`2h_t^2(0),\varkappa ^2(0)10`$ – Fig.4a, and the corresponding values of the Yukawa couplings at the electroweak scale – Fig.4b. The thick and thin curves in Fig.4b represent, respectively, the invariant and the Hill line.

Fig.5. Quasi–fixed surface in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\varkappa ,\rho _\lambda )`$ space. The shaded part of the surface represents the region near which the solutions corresponding to the initial values $`2h_t^2(0),\varkappa ^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)10`$ – Fig.5a, $`20h_t^2(0),\varkappa ^2(0),\lambda ^2(0)100`$ – Fig.5b are concentrated.

Fig.6. Evolution of the combination $`\rho _t+0.720\rho _\lambda +0.3330\rho _\varkappa `$ of the Yukawa couplings from the Grand Unification scale ($`t=0`$) to the electroweak scale ($`t=t_0`$) for various initial values $`h_t^2(0)`$ – Fig.6a, $`\lambda ^2(0)`$ – Fig.6b, $`\varkappa ^2(0)`$ – Fig.6c.

Fig.7. Invariant and quasi–fixed lines in the $`(\rho _t,\rho _\lambda )`$ plane obtained by means of numerical calculations (thick and thin solid curves) and by means of approximate solution of the renormalisation group equations of the NMSSM (dashed and dotted curves). The thick solid curve and the dashed curve represent the infrared fixed line, while the thin solid curve and the dotted curve represent the Hill line.

Fig.8. The values of the Yukawa couplings at the electroweak scale corresponding to the unification of $`h_b`$ and $`h_\tau `$ at the scale $`q=M_X`$ (thick line). The infrared quasi–fixed line is also presented here (thin line).

Fig.1a.  Fig.1b.

Fig.2a.  Fig.2b.

Fig.3a.

Fig.3b.

Fig.4a.

Fig.4b.

Fig.5a.

Fig.5b.

Fig.6a.

Fig.6b.

Fig.6c.

Fig.7.

Fig.8.


format: text

text:
# Are all young stars disc accretors?

## 1. Introduction

We now understand how low mass stars evolve through cloud collapse and magnetically-channelled disc accretion, but whether higher mass stars are also disc accretors is as yet unknown. To answer this question, we need observations probing the near-star geometry of higher mass stars.

## 2. Method of H$`\alpha `$ spectro-polarimetry

Until sub-milliarcsecond imaging becomes possible, H$`\alpha `$ spectro-polarimetry is the most powerful technique to explore the first few stellar radii around young stars. The method is based on the expectation that the H$`\alpha `$ emission – formed over a large volume in a circumstellar medium – undergoes less electron scattering than the stellar continuum. As the line is then less polarized than the continuum, a change in the polarization across the line occurs – we refer to this as the classical line-effect (analogous to that seen in classical Be stars).

## 3. Results for the Herbig Ae/Be stars

### 3.1. A typical Herbig Be star showing a classical line-effect

Figure 1: Polarization spectrum (middle panel) of the Herbig Be star MWC 1080 (0.07% binning). The position angle and Stokes I are also shown.

Figure 1 shows the polarization spectrum (middle panel) for the typical Herbig Be star MWC 1080. Note the presence of the classical line-effect – depolarization across the line – implying that the electron-scattering region is not spherically symmetric, but that the geometry is flattened, i.e. disc-like.

### 3.2. A typical Herbig Ae star showing intrinsic line polarization

Figure 2: Polarization spectrum of the Herbig Ae star MWC 480 (0.05% binning). The panels are as in Fig. 1. The polarization signature is more complicated here, and is at variance with the simple depolarization picture described above. The data for this and other Herbig Ae stars may suggest the presence of a compact H$`\alpha `$ source, located inside a rotating distribution of scatterers. Possibly, the magnetic accretor model – commonly applied to low mass T Tauri stars – is able to explain the observations for the Herbig stars at this spectral type.

### 3.3. Main results from our Herbig Ae/Be sample

To be able to make a proper distinction between inclination and intrinsic geometrical effects, we have studied a larger sample (30+) of Herbig Ae/Be stars. So far, we find:

* For the Herbig Be stars: 10 out of 18 reveal depolarization, i.e. the classical line-effect.
* For the Herbig Ae stars: 9 out of 13 show an intrinsic line polarization effect.

## 4. Conclusions

Our data indicate that discs around Herbig Ae/Be stars are common, suggesting that the higher mass Herbig Ae/Be stars may well be disc accretors. However, the Herbig Ae and the Herbig Be stars show different polarization signatures, possibly revealing differences in their modes of accretion.


text:
# Status of APEmille

## 1 OVERVIEW

The APEmille project was started with the goal of developing and commissioning a massively parallel computer optimized for lattice gauge theory (LGT), with a peak performance close to the 1 TFlops threshold . APEmille is the third generation of APE machines . The project is now completed, as far as hardware development and construction are concerned: several APEmille systems have been installed at various sites, providing an overall processing power close to 1.5 TFlops. These systems have become the main workhorse for doing LGT simulations for several research groups . In this paper, we briefly recall the features of APEmille, present the status of the project, describe the final shape of the software environment and discuss the performance achieved by physics programs.

## 2 APEmille ARCHITECTURE

APEmille is based on a three dimensional mesh of nodes connected by a synchronous communication network linking first neighbours. All nodes in the mesh operate in Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) mode. Each node consists of a 0.5 GFlops custom developed floating point processor and 32 MB data memory. At each clock cycle the processor is able to complete the operation $`a\times b+c`$ following the IEEE standard, where $`a,b,c`$ are single precision complex or double precision real operands. APEmille is a highly modular and scalable system. The basic building block and smallest independently running entity is a processing board (PB) with $`2\times 2\times 2`$ nodes. Up to 16 PBs are interconnected via a single backplane to form an APEmille crate. One crate has 128 processors, approximately 65 GFlops peak performance and 4 GB data memory. Larger systems, which can be re-partitioned by software, are assembled by connecting $`n`$ crates together. The corresponding topology is $`2n\times 8\times 8`$.

APEmille systems are connected to a network of host PCs with a Linux operating system, each hosting 4 PBs. The network contains one or more master PCs on which users log in to start their application programs. Input/output is usually performed onto disks belonging to the master. This I/O setup is limited by the performance of the network connecting the PCs (typically FastEthernet). The measured bandwidth is of the order of 6 MBytes/sec. Higher I/O rates can be achieved by hooking ’local’ disks directly to the host PCs with Ultra2 SCSI channels. In this setup the bandwidth scales with the size of the system. Typically it is of the order of 100 MBytes/sec per crate.

Power consumption of APEmille systems is very low (less than 30 W/GFlops) and the footprint of a two-crate rack is about $`0.7m^2`$. For these reasons, APEmille machines are simply air cooled and do not need complex infrastructure.

## 3 PROJECT STATUS

After prototypes were assembled and tested in late 1999, a first round of production was carried out in the year 2000. A second and final round of production was started in spring 2001. APEmille systems have been installed at several sites belonging to the APEmille collaboration and also at a few more universities and research labs (see Tab. 1). The presently installed peak processing power is about 1460 GFlops and will grow to about 2.2 TFlops once the final round of construction is completed.

APEmille is a very stable system: up-times of 1-2 months or more are routinely achieved. Hardware maintenance is typically limited to simple replacement of ageing modules and is therefore cheap, both in terms of hardware costs and manpower.

## 4 SOFTWARE AND PERFORMANCE

APEmille systems use the familiar TAO programming language, already used in all previous APE machines. The language has been extended by very few elements to exploit the new features of APEmille, like double precision and local integer data types, and the increased number of registers. Old APE100 programs can be re-compiled for the new machine with almost no changes. High performance, however, is achieved only after some tuning of the codes. To this end the TAO programmer still has to follow only a few optimisation guidelines.

Typically, the efficiency is limited by latencies in local memory accesses and by both latencies and bandwidth in remote data transfers. Good performance requires therefore some care to hide the latencies and to have data already available in registers when they are needed by the floating-point unit.

The steps to boost efficiency include:

* Intensive use of registers to prefetch data.
* Memory accesses which are known to be always local are flagged to the compiler, so that a more aggressive scheduling can be employed.
* Memory accesses are made in large bursts of data (say up to 36–96 complex numbers in a single burst) and complex conjugation is performed ”on the fly” when loading the data.
* Use of APEmille intrinsic 64-bit floating-point format in precision critical parts of the code.

Using the steps described above to optimize a bi-conjugate gradient solver for the improved Wilson-Dirac operator, the following performance numbers have been obtained:

* The main loop in the most time consuming kernel of the code achieves a pipeline filling of more than 80%.
* Computations with $`SU(3)`$ matrices (clover term) run at 380 MFlops per node.
* The full inverter runs at 200 MFlops sustained (distributed lattice with local volume $`6\times 3\times 3\times 64`$ on each node).

## 5 CONCLUSIONS

With the completion of the last APEmille systems at various sites by end of this year, an other 2 TFlops of overall compute power will be available to the LGT community. APEmille has become a main and reliable workhorse for many groups. System and compiler software are very stable, but further adjustments may bring additional improvements in performance and user-friendliness. While the APEmille project has basically been finished, the development of a next generation of APE machines is in progress .

## ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank F. Aglietti, M. Cosimi, I. D’Auria, A. Hoferichter, A. Menchikov, A. Michelotti, E. Panizzi, B. Proietti, G. Sacco and K.-H. Sulanke for important contributions in the early phases of the project.


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# MODELS FOR THE UV-X EMISSION IN AGN: INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT PARAMETERS

## 1 The codes

Using a photoionisation-transfer code specially designed for hot Compton thick media ($`T10^4K`$, Thomson depth $`\tau _{es}`$ can be as large as a few hundreds), we are able to compute the thermal and ionisation structure and the spectrum emitted and reflected by a slab of gas illuminated on one side or on both sides by a given spectrum in a plane-parallel geometry (for a description of the code, see Dumont et al.  and Dumont & Collin ). Contrary to the other photoionisation codes which use the escape probability (EP) formalism, our code solves the transfer of the continuum with the Accelerated Lambda Iteration (ALI) procedure and that of the lines with a two stream approximation (ALI is being implemented presently for the lines). It is coupled with a Monte-Carlo code which allows to take into account Compton and inverse Compton diffusions, and to compute the spectrum emitted up to hundreds of keV energies, in any geometry.

The gas composition includes 10 elements and 102 ions. H is treated as a 6-level atom, H-like and Li-like as 5-level atoms, He-like ions as 8-levels atoms and matrix inversions are performed to compute the levels populations. The other ions are treated roughly as two level atoms plus a continuum. All collisional and radiative processes (including ionizations from and recombinations onto excited levels) are taken into account. Recombinations onto upper levels ($`n>6`$ for H, $`n>5`$ for H- and Li-like ions, $`n>8`$ for He-like ions) are added to our highest excited level.

## 2 Results

We consider here two cases :

* the density is constant across the slab
* the pressure is constant across the slab

In the present examples the incident continuum is a power law with a slope of unity (in flux, $`F_\nu `$) from 0.1 eV to 100 keV. We take cosmic abundances. The density at the surface of the slab is $`10^{12}`$cm-3 and the incident flux is equal to $`\mathrm{8\; 10}^{13}`$ erg cm-3 s-1 (corresponding to an ionisation parameter $`\xi =L/(n_HR^2)=1000`$ erg.cm.s-1) in constant pressure and constant density cases.

### 2.1 Influence of the transfer treatment

In Dumont et al. , it was shown that the neglect of the returning radiation often used in photoionisation codes, i.e. the “outward only” approximation, leads to strong temperature errors, in particular at the illuminated face of the slab when the slab is thick ($`\tau _{es}0.1`$).

One other difference between EP and transfer lies in the fact that the line emissivity can be negative whereas it is impossible in EP (see ). This translates into a difference in the energy balance, which can have important consequences on the equilibrium temperature (see Fig. 1 for an example in the constant pressure case).

### 2.2 Influence of the atomic data

The model atoms are important not only for the thermal balance, but also for the ionization equilibrium. Fig. 2 shows the temperature profile and Fig. 3 the fractional abundances of oxygen versus optical thickness, for two different treatments of the atomic data, in the constant density case. When only H-like ions are treated with multi-level atoms, the temperature is higher than in the treatment with H-like, He-like and Li-like multi-level ions for an optical thickness smaller than about 2 and then is lower, for larger optical thicknesses.

Treating H-, He-, Li-like ions as multi-level atoms produce more lines than with only H-like multi-level atoms; all these added lines cool the medium which leads to a cooler temperature in the case of H-, He-, Li-like multi-level ions. The temperature profile declines faster in the H-like description than in the ’total’ description between $`\tau _{es}=2`$ and $`\tau _{es}=3`$ because in that place, photoionization from the excited levels of Li-like ions are as important as those from the ground level in contradistinction to H-like and He-like ions where the photoionisation from excited levels is always negligible. When looking at the fractional abundances of oxygen, one sees that O VIII is present deeper in the cloud in the description with H-, He-, Li-like multi level atoms than in the treatment with only H-like multi level atoms. This is due to an approximate treatment of losses due to recombination radiation in the two-level atoms.

### 2.3 Comparison of constant density and constant pressure models

The slab being illuminated with the same irradiating flux, we compare the results in the constant density and in the constant pressure cases. The temperature profiles and fractional abundances of oxygen are shown on Figs. 24 and 35 respectively. At first sight, one sees that the thermal and ionization structure are completely different in the two different cases, owing to the phase change of the photoionized gas in the constant pressure case (see Krolik et al. ) when soft X-ray photons have been absorbed. The temperature decreases abruptly and consequently the density increases in the constant presssure case. Accordingly, the emission-reflection spectra are different. Fig. 6 shows the reflected spectra in the constant density and the constant pressure cases, and Fig. 7 is a zoom of Fig. 6 between 0.1 and 20 keV on which a few lines and edges are identified. Some line equivalent widths (EWs) of interest, in the constant density and constant pressure cases, are given in Table 1. We recall that the EWs are those measured only on the reflected spectra with no dilution due to the incident spectrum.

Due to the absence of layers with an intermediate temperature in the constant pressure case, the “intermediate” ions are almost absent. As a consequence, the iron lines correspond to both high and low ionization species, in contradistinction to the constant density case. Finally, due to the absence of intermediate temperature layers giving rise to soft X-ray reflection, the reflected spectrum in the constant pressure case displays a narrower “Blue Bump” than in the constant density case.

## 3 Foreseen improvements

Presently we are implementing the ALI method in the transfer of the lines which are the most difficult to converge.

We intend to treat all ions as multi-level atoms and to add levels to those already treated like this. We will take into account some forbidden lines which could be important for the cooling of the medium in some places.

Though there are still many improvements to perform, we already use theses codes to describe AGN spectra in the UV and X-ray range, in their validity range. In particular, the code is used to compute the spectrum emitted by an irradiated slab in hydrostatic equilibrium (see Różańska et al. in this workshop).


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# Influence of Random Internal Fields on the Tunneling of OH- Defects in NaCl Crystals

## Abstract

Alkali halide crystals doped with certain impurity ions show a low temperature behaviour, which differs significantly from that of pure crystals. The origin of these characteristic differences are tunneling centers formed by atomic or molecular impurity ions. We have investigated the dielectric susceptibility of hydroxyl ions in NaCl crystals at very low concentrations (below 30 ppm), where interactions are believed to be negligible. We find that the temperature dependence of the susceptibility is noticeably different from what one would expect for isolated defects in a symmetric environment. We propose that the origin of these deviations are random internal strains arising from imperfections of the host crystal. We will present the experimental data and a theoretical model which allows a quantitative understanding on a microscopic basis.

For almost 30 years phenomenological tunneling models have provided a powerful conceptual framework for the understanding of both amorphous solids Phil An  and point defects in crystals NaPo . It has been a widely accepted belief that in the limit of large impurity concentration the disordered crystals show glasslike behaviour. One of the main interests in studying crystals with varying impurity concentrations has been to observe the onset of glasslike low-temperature universality WaPo .

In this work we want to step back and investigate the dynamics of supposedly non interacting hydroxyl defects at low concentrations in $`\mathrm{NaCl}`$ crystals. A thorough description of the properties of this type of material could then serve as a starting point for the modelling of highly doped crystals with stronger disorder where the interaction has to be included.

We have investigated the dielectric susceptibility $`\chi (\omega )`$ of NaCl:OH- at several low impurity concentrations and at frequencies ranging from 100 Hz to about 1 GHz and temperatures from $`0.1`$ to $`10`$ K. A single $`\mathrm{OH}^{}`$ \- ion replacing a $`\mathrm{Cl}^{}`$ can be described microscopically by a simple six – state model Shore . The results show clear differences from the naive expectation based on this microscopic picture (cf. Fig. 1). Especially in the crossover region at temperatures comparable to the tunnel splitting the dielectric susceptibility $`\chi ^{}`$ varies more smoothly with temperature than expected. This holds for all frequencies and concentrations observed.

In addition, the damping, $`\chi ^{\prime \prime }(\omega )`$, is surprisingly high and changes within a frequency range where we would have expected the behaviour to be well described by the static limit $`\omega 0`$, in which no dissipation should occur. This phenomenon has been discussed in terms of interacting defects Wu PoAn . In this work we want to restrict ourselves to isolated systems and focus on the course of the susceptibility curve.

Classically, the egg-shaped $`\mathrm{OH}^{}`$ -ion in a NaCl crystal possesses six equilibrium positions between which it can move via tunneling processes. This partially lifts the sixfold degeneracy of the groundstate. The defect is thus modelled by a six-state system consisting of pocket states which are supposed to be highly localized and to be eigenstates of the position operator $`\stackrel{}{X}`$ with eigenvalues corresponding to the positions of the six minima of the potential energy. We assign a tunneling matrix element $`a`$ to the $`90^0`$ \- tunneling and a matrix element $`b`$ to the $`180^0`$ \- processes. This leads to three energy levels $`E_\mathrm{g}=4ab`$, $`E_\mathrm{a}=b`$ and $`E_\mathrm{d}=2ab`$ with degeneracies 1,3, and 2 respectively. The triplet consists of states with negative parity, whereas the other states have positive parity, such that no dielectric transitions are allowed between the levels $`E_\mathrm{g}`$ and $`E_\mathrm{d}`$.

The total Hamiltonian of a single defect in an electric field $`\stackrel{}{E}`$ and an elastic strain – field reads

$$H=H_{\mathrm{tunnel}}+q\stackrel{}{X}\stackrel{}{E}+\gamma \underset{i}{}ϵ_{ii}X_i^2$$

where the off- diagonal elements $`ϵ_{ij}ij`$ of the strain tensor cannot couple to the defect because of the operators $`X_i`$ and $`X_j`$ projecting onto different and orthogonal states. Here, $`q`$ is the effective charge of the defect and $`\gamma `$ describes the coupling to strain fields and can be extracted from measurements of the sound velocity and -attenuation. For a detailed description the reader is referred to Shore

In the presence of elastic strain fields, the selection rules mentioned above remain unchanged whereas electric fields will mix the parity eigenstates, and dielectric transitions between all the states enter the game. As a consequence, static electric fields lead to an augmentation of the dielectric susceptibility at temperatures around $`2a/k_\mathrm{B}`$, whereas the main effect of elastic fields is the spreading of the spectrum and a consequent flattening of the susceptibility vs. temperature curve.

From the above mentioned deviations from the naive expectation, we conjecture that the OH- defects in alkali halide crystals are subject to random internal strain fields in the host crystal, whereas random electric fields do not seem to be of great importance. Not knowing the origin of these strain fields, we suppose them to be gaussian distributed with zero mean and variance $`\sigma `$ and calculate the observed $`\chi `$ by averaging over this distribution.

We find a very nice agreement with the experimental data using for the sample containing 16 ppm OH- the parameters $`\sigma =1.57`$ $`k_\mathrm{B}`$K, $`2a=1.29`$ $`k_\mathrm{B}`$K and $`b=0`$ where the latter is in fair agreement with preceding experiments ( See, e.g. Suto ). With these parameters our model fits the real part of the static susceptibility very well (cf. Fig. 2).

The frequency dependence of $`\chi ^{}`$ and the behaviour of the damping $`\chi ^{\prime \prime }`$ indicates the presence of additional relaxation channels.

As relaxation through the phonon bath would be too weak to account for the observations (cf. Fig. 3), we conjecture that relaxation is mainly due to direct interactions between the defects, even at concentrations as low as 16 ppm.

The most probable candidates for the possible sources of the strain fields are dislocation lines within the host crystal. With $`10^8`$ $`\mathrm{cm}^2`$ as a reasonable value for their concentration each defect would have an dislocation line at an average distance of about 10 Å. If we plug in appropriate values for the coupling- and the lattice constant we find an average interaction energy of 5 $`k_\mathrm{B}`$K which agrees with our previous estimates.

In measurements of the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant of $`\mathrm{OH}^{}`$ doped alkali halide crystals we have observed deviations from the behaviour one would have expected for isolated point defects in a symmetric environment. Investigation of the influence of random strain- and electric field led us to the conclusion that the experiment proved the presence of random strain fields in the host crystal. The order of magnitude of the strain fields needed to explain the experiment can easily be covered by a reasonable concentration of displacement lines.