THE GAUGE HIERARCHY PROBLEM AND HIGHER-DIMENSIONAL GAUGE-THEORIES

We report on an attempt to solve the gauge hierarchy problem in the fr amework of higher-dimensional gauge theories. Both classical Higgs mas s and quadratically divergent quantum correction to the mass are argue d to be vanished. Hence the hierarchy problem in its original sense is solved. The remaining finite mass correction is shown to depend cruci ally on the choice of boundary condition for matter fields, and a way to fix it dynamically is presented. We also point out that on the simp ly-connected space S-2 even the finite mass correction vanishes.