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Phenomenological constraints on broken R parity symmetry in supersymmetry models

The R parity odd renormalizable Yukawa interactions of quarks and leptons with the scalar superpartners have the ability to violate the baryon and lepton numbers, change the hadron and lepton flavors and make the lightest supersymmetric particle unstable. The existence of an approximate R parity symmetry would thus affect in a deep way the conventional framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model where an exact R parity symmetry is built-in by assumption. The purpose of the present review is to survey in a systematic way the direct experimental constraints set on the R parity violating couplings by the low and intermediate energy physics processes. We consider first the option of bilinear R parity violation and spontaneously broken R parity symmetry and proceed next to the trilinear R parity violating interactions. The discussion aims at surveying the indirect coupling constant bounds derived from fundamental tests of the Standard Model and the variety of scattering and rare decay processes. We also discuss the constraints imposed by the renormalization group scale evolution and the cosmological and astrophysical phenomenology.