QUANTUM MODIFIED MODULI SPACES AND FIELD-DEPENDENT GAUGE COUPLINGS

In this paper we discuss quantum modified moduli spaces in supergravit y. We examine a model suggested by Izawa and Yanagida and by Intriliga tor and Thomas that breaks global supersymmetry by a quantum deformati on of the classical moduli space, We determine the minimum of the supe rgravity potential when the gauge coupling is taken to depend on a dyn amical field, typically a modulus of string theory. We find that the o nly minimum is at the trivial configuration of vanishing coupling cons tant and unbroken supersymmetry. We also discuss models involving more complicated superpotentials and find that the gauge coupling is only stabilized in a supersymmetric ground state. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.