This is Version nr. 2 (16/04/2001) of the original paper (06/03/2001). Includes corrected typos.
A five dimensional N=1 supersymmetric theory compactified on the orbifold $S^1/\mathbb{Z}_2$ is constructed. Gauge fields and $SU(2)_L$ singlets propagate in the bulk ($U$-states) while $SU(2)_L$ doublets are localized at an orbifold fixed point brane ($T$-states). Zero bulk modes and localized states constitute the MSSM and massive modes are arranged into N=2 supermultiplets. Superpotential interactions on the brane are of the type $UTT$. Supersymmetry is broken in the bulk by a Scherk-Schwarz mechanism using the $U(1)_R$ global $R$-symmetry. A radiative finite electroweak breaking is triggered by the top-quark/squark multiplet $\mathbb{T}$ propagating in the bulk. The compactification radius $R$ is fixed by the minimization conditions and constrained to be $1/R \simlt 10-15$ TeV. It is also constrained by precision electroweak measurements to be $1/R \simgt 4$ TeV. The pattern of supersymmetric mass spectrum is well defined. In particular, the lightest supersymmetric particle is the sneutrino and the next to lightest supersymmetric particle the charged slepton, with a squared-mass difference $\sim M_Z^2$. The theory couplings, gauge and Yukawa, remain perturbative up to scales $E$ given, at one-loop, by $ER \simlt 30-40$. Finally, LEP searches on the MSSM Higgs sector imply an absolute lower bound on the SM-like Higgs mass, around 145 GeV in the one-loop approximation
Work supported inpart by CICYT, Spain, under contract AEN98-0816, and by EU under contracts HPRN-CT-2000-00152 and HPRN-CT-2000-00148.
Peer reviewed