Gauge Symmetry Breaking through Soft Masses in Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

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Effects of soft breaking in N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories are studied. For Nf < Nc, we include the dynamics of the non-perturbative superpotential and use the original (s)quark and gauge fields. For Nf > Nc +1, we formulate the dynamics in terms of dual (s)quarks and a dual gauge group SU(Nf-Nc). The mass squared of the squarks can be negative triggering spontaneous breakdown of flavor and color symmetry. The general condition for stability of the vacuum is derived. We determine the breaking pattern, determine the spectrum and argue that the masses vary smoothly as one crosses from the Higgs phase into the confining phase, thus exhibiting complementarity.