theoretical physics Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experim ...

, the Konishi anomaly is the violation of the conservation of the

Noether current Noether's theorem or Noether's first theorem states that every differentiable symmetry of the action of a physical system with conservative forces has a corresponding conservation law. The theorem was proven by mathematician Emmy Noether i ...

associated with certain transformations in theories with N=1 supersymmetry. More precisely, this transformation changes the phase of a chiral superfield. It shouldn't be confused with the

R-symmetry In theoretical physics, the R-symmetry is the symmetry transforming different supercharges in a theory with supersymmetry into each other. In the simplest case of the ''N''=1 supersymmetry, such an R-symmetry is isomorphic to a global U(1) group o ...

that also depends on the fermionic

superspace Superspace is the coordinate space of a theory exhibiting supersymmetry. In such a formulation, along with ordinary space dimensions ''x'', ''y'', ''z'', ..., there are also "anticommuting" dimensions whose coordinates are labeled in Grassmann numb ...

variables. The divergence of the corresponding Noether current for the Konishi transformation is nonzero but can be exactly expressed using the

superpotential In theoretical physics, the superpotential is a function in supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Given a superpotential, two "partner potentials" are derived that can each serve as a potential in the Schrödinger equation. The partner potentials hav ...

. Konishi anomaly is named after its discoverer Kenichi Konishi, who is currently full professor of Theoretical Physics at the Physics Department E.Fermi of

University of Pisa The University of Pisa ( it, Università di Pisa, UniPi), officially founded in 1343, is one of the oldest universities in Europe. History The Origins The University of Pisa was officially founded in 1343, although various scholars place ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

References

* Supersymmetric quantum field theory Anomalies (physics) {{quantum-stub