Strong constraints on the parameter space of the MSSM from charge and color breaking minima

A complete analysis of all the potentially dangerous directions in the field space of the minimal supersymmetric standard model is carried out. They are of two types, the ones associated with the existence of charge and color breaking minima in the potential deeper than the realistic minimum, and the directions in the field space along which the potential becomes unbounded from below. The corresponding new constraints on the parameter space are given in an analytic form, representing a set of necessary and sufficient conditions to avoid dangerous directions. They are very strong and, in fact, there are extensive regions in the parameter space that become forbidden. This produces important bounds, not only on the value of A, but also on the values of B, M(1/2) and m. Finally, the crucial issue of the one-loop corrections to the scalar potential has been taken into account in a proper way.