Polynomial invariants for SU(2) monopoles

We present an explicit expression for the topological invariants associated to SU(2) monopoles in the fundamental representation on spin four-manifolds. The computation of these invariants is based on the analysis of their corresponding topological quantum field theory, and it turns out that they can be expressed in terms of Seiberg-Witten invariants. In this analysis we use recent exact results on the moduli space of vacua of the untwisted N = 1 and N = 2 supersymmetric counterparts of the topological quantum field theory under consideration, as well as on electric-magnetic duality for N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories.     

New principles for string/membrane unification

The target space theory of the N = (2,1) heterotic string may be interpreted as a theory of gravity coupled to matter in either 1 + 1 or 2 + 1 dimensions. Among the target space theories in 1 + 1 dimensions are the bosonic, type II, and heterotic string world-sheet field theories in a physical gauge. The (2 + 1)-dimensional version describes a consistent quantum theory of supermembranes in 10 + 1 dimensions. The unifying framework for all of these vacua is a theory of (2 + 2)-dimensional self-dual geometries embedded in 10 + 2 dimensions. There are also indications that the N = (2,1) string describes the strong-coupling dynamics of compactifications of critical string theories to two dimensions, and may lead to insights about the fundamental degrees of freedom of the theory.     

Supersymmetric renormalization group flows

The functional renormalization group equation for the quantum effective action is a powerful tool to investigate non-perturbative phenomena in quantum field theories. We discuss the application of manifest supersymmetric flow equations to the N = 1 Wess-Zumino model in two and three dimensions and the linear O(N) sigma model in three dimensions in the large-N limit. The former is a toy model for dynamical supersymmetry breaking, the latter for an exactly solvable field theory.     

On quantum mechanics with extended supersymmetry and nonabelian gauge constraints

We analyze a weakly restricted general class of quantum mechanical models with at least four real supercharges and nonabelian gauge constraints. The innocent-looking restrictions lead automatically and exclusively to the quantum mechanics which are the dimensionally reduced counterparts of supersymmetric Yang-Mills field theories. This result provides in turn an independent proof that N = 1, N = 2 and N = 4 Yang-Mills fields are the only possible supersymmetric gauge field theories (without central charges) in four dimensions.     

Euclidean SYM theories by time reduction and special holonomy manifolds

Euclidean supersymmetric theories are obtained from Minkowskian theories by performing a reduction in the time direction. This procedure elucidates certain mysterious features of Zumino's N = 2 model in four dimensions, provides manifestly hermitian Euclidean counterparts of all non-mimimal SYM theories, and is also applicable to supergravity theories. We reanalyse the twists of the 4d N = 2 and N = 4 models from this point of view. Other applications include SYM theories on special holonomy manifolds. In particular, we construct a twisted SYM theory on Kähler 3-folds and clarify the structure of SYM theory on hyper-Kähler 4-folds.     

Dynamical supersymmetry breaking and gauge anomalies

Some aspects of supersymmetric gauge theories and discussed. It is shown that dynamical supersymmetry breaking does not occur in supersymmetric QED in higher dimensions. The cancellation of both local (perturbative) and global (non-perturbative) gauge anomalies are also discussed in supersymmetric gauge theories. We argue that there is no dynamical supersymmetry breaking in higher dimensions in any supersymmetric gauge theories free of gauge anomalies. It is also shown that for supersymmetric gauge theories in higher dimensions with a compact connected simple gauge group, when the local anomaly-free condition is satisfied, there can be at most a possibleZ ₂ global gauge anomaly in extended supersymmetricSO(10) (or spin (10)) gauge theories inD=10 dimensions containing additional Weyl fermions in a spinor representation ofSO(10) (or spin (10)). In four dimensions with local anomaly-free condition satisfied, the only possible global gauge anomalies in supersymmetric gauge theories areZ ₂ global gauge anomalies for extended supersymmetricSP(2N) (N=rank) gauge theories containing additional Weyl fermions in a representation ofSP(2N) with an odd 2nd-order Dynkin index.     

0-extended supergravity and Chern-Simons theories

We give generalizations of extended Poincaré supergravity with arbitrarily many supersymmetries in the absence of central charges in three dimensions by gauging its intrinsic global SO(N) symmetry. We call these ₀ (Aleph-null) supergravity theories. We further couple a non-Abelian supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory and an Abelian topological BF theory to ₀ supergravity. Our result overcomes the previous difficulty for supersymmetrization of Chern-Simons theories beyond N = 4. This feature is peculiar to the Chern-Simons and BF theories including supergravity in three dimensions. We also show that dimensional reduction schemes for four-dimensional theories such as N = 1 self-dual supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory or N = 1 supergravity theory that can generate ₀ globally and locally supersymmetric theories in three dimensions. As an interesting application, we present ₀ supergravity Liouville theory in two dimensions after appropriate dimensional reduction from three dimensions.     

New avenues in supersymmetry and supergravity

We analyze the problem of constructing supersymmetric versions of gauge theories of particles and of gravity which have a closed supersymmetric algebra. Inparticular we present the basic no-go theorems that indicate that in four dimensions it is not possible to construct suitably extended supersymmetric versions of the above theories without drastic modification of the supersymmetric algebra. Two ways past the“N=3” barrier are discussed; that of central charges involved highly constrained versions which appearn difficult to quantize effectively, while the use of light-cone variables seems to be the most promising. We give light-cone gauge versions of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories for all extended cases of interest and briefly consider their ultraviolet divergence properties.     

A new derivation of the Picard-Fuchs equations for effective N = 2 super Yang-Mills theories

A new method to obtain the Picard-Fuchs equations of effective, N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories in 4 dimensions is developed. It includes both pure super Yang-Mills and supersymmetric gauge theories with massless matter hypermultiplets. It applies to all classical gauge groups, and directly produces a decoupled set of second-order, partial differential equations satisfied by the period integrals of the Seiberg-Witten differential along the 1-cycles of the algebraic curves describing the vacuum structure of the corresponding N = 2 theory.     

ℵ0-extended supergravity and Chern-Simons theories

We give generalizations of extended Poincaré supergravity with arbitrarily many supersymmetries in the absence of central charges in three dimensions by gauging its intrinsic global SO(N) symmetry. We call these ℵ₀ (Aleph-null) supergravity theories. We further couple a non-Abelian supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory and an Abelian topological BF theory to ℵ₀ supergravity. Our result overcomes the previous difficulty for supersymmetrization of Chern-Simons theories beyond N = 4. This feature is peculiar to the Chern-Simons and BF theories including supergravity in three dimensions. We also show that dimensional reduction schemes for four-dimensional theories such as N = 1 self-dual supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory or N = 1 supergravity theory that can generate ℵ₀ globally and locally supersymmetric theories in three dimensions. As an interesting application, we present ℵ₀ supergravity Liouville theory in two dimensions after appropriate dimensional reduction from three dimensions.     

Supergraphity: (II). Manifestly covariant rules and higher-loop finiteness

We continue our discussion of the background field formalism in supersymmetric theories, deriving new covariant Feynman rules for chiral superfields. As a result, we obtain improved power-counting rules for both simple and extended supersymmetry which can be used to make the following statements: If the corresponding extended superfield formalism exist, (a) N=2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory is finite beyond one loop, (b) N=4 Yang-Mills is finite at all loops, and (c) N=8 supergravity is finite through six loops. We also find that in simple super-Yang-Mills the radiative corrections to the Fayet-Iliopoulos (“D”) term, which are known to vanish for higher loops, also vanish automatically at one loop for arbitrary couplings.     

Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz for N = 1 supersymmetric theories

We study a series of N = 1 supersymmetric integrable particle theories in d = 1 + 1 dimensions. These theories are represented as integrable perturbations of specific N = 1 superconformal field theories. Starting from the conjectured S-matrices for these theories, we develop the Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz (TBA), where we use that the 2-particle S-matrices satisfy a free fermion condition. Our analysis proves a conjecture by E. Melzer, who proposed that these N = 1 supersymmetric. TBA systems are “folded” versions of N = 2 supersymmetric TBA systems that were first studied by P. Fendley and K. Intriligator.     

Ultra-violet finiteness of supersymmetric non-linear sigma models

It is shown that N = 4 supersymmetric non-linear sigma models in two spacetime dimensions are ultra-violet finite to all orders in perturbation theory.     

Integrability of a family of quantum field theories related to sigma models

A method is introduced for constructing lattice discretizations of large classes of integrable quantum field theories. The method proceeds in two steps: The quantum algebraic structure underlying the integrability of the model is determined from the algebra of the interaction terms in the light-cone representation. The representation theory of the relevant quantum algebra is then used to construct the basic ingredients of the quantum inverse scattering method, the lattice Lax matrices and R-matrices. This method is illustrated with four examples: The sinh-Gordon model, the affine sl(3) Toda model, a model called the fermionic sl(2|1) Toda theory, and the N=2 supersymmetric sine-Gordon model. These models are all related to sigma models in various ways. The N=2 supersymmetric sine-Gordon model, in particular, describes the Pohlmeyer reduction of string theory on AdS₂×S², and is dual to a supersymmetric non-linear sigma model with a sausage-shaped target space.     

Flat coordinates,topological Landau-Ginzburg models and the Seiberg-Witten period integrals

We study the Picard-Fuchs differential equations for the Seiberg-Witten period integrals in N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. For A-D-E gauge groups we derive the Picard-Fuchs equations by using the flat coordinates in the A-D-E singularity theory. We then find that these are equivalent to the Gauss-Manin system for two-dimensional A-D-E topological Landau-Ginzburg models and the scaling relation for the Seiberg-Witten differential. This suggests an interesting relationship between four-dimensional N = 2 gauge theories in the Coulomb branch and two-dimensional topological field theories.     

Dynamical supersymmetry breaking in a finite field theoretical model

We present a supersymmetric field theory in two or three space-time dimensions with an internal symmetry of the O(N) type. In the large-N limit the model is finite and supersymmetry is spontaneously broken. The fields representing the order parameters of the broken supersymmetry phase acquire dynamics through quantum corrections. In particular the Goldstone fermion is a zero-mass fermionic bound state.     

Superstring theory

Dual string theories, initially developed as phenomenological models of hadrons, now appear more promising as candidates for a unified theory of fundamental interactions. Type I superstring theory (SST I), is a ten-dimensional theory of interacting open and closed strings, with one supersymmetry, that is free from ghosts and tachyons. It requires that an SO(n) or Sp(2n) gauge group be used. A light-cone-gauge string action with space-time supersymmetry automatically incorporates the superstring restrictions and leads to the discovery of type II superstring theory (SST II). SST II is an interacting theory of closed strings only, with two D = 10 supersymmetries, that is also free from ghosts and tachyons. By taking six of the spatial dimensions to form a compact space, it becomes possible to reconcile the models with our four-dimensional perception of spacetime and to define low-energy limits in which SST I reduces to N = 4, D = 4 super Yang-Mills theory and SST II reduces to N = 8, D = 4 supergravity theory. The superstring theories can be described by a light-cone-gauge action principle based on fields that are functionals of string coordinates. With this formalism any physical quantity should be calculable. There is some evidence that, unlike any conventional field theory, the superstring theories provide perturbatively renormalizable (SST I) or finite (SST II) unifications of gravity with other interactions.     

Higher Spins from Nambu–Chern–Simons Theory

We propose a new theory of higher spin gravity in three spacetime dimensions. This is defined by what we will call a Nambu–Chern–Simons (NCS) action; this is to a Nambu 3-algebra as an ordinary Chern–Simons (CS) action is to a Lie (2-)algebra. The novelty is that the gauge group of this theory is simple; this stands in contrast to previously understood interacting 3D higher spin theories in the frame-like formalism. We also consider the N = 8 supersymmetric NCS-matter model (BLG theory), where the NCS action originated: Its fully supersymmetric M2 brane configurations are interpreted as Hopf fibrations, the homotopy type of the (infinite) gauge group is calculated and its instantons are classified.     

Quantum Noether method

We present a general method for constructing perturbative quantum field theories with global symmetries. We start from a free non-interacting quantum field theory with given global symmetries and we determine all perturbative quantum deformations assuming the construction is not obstructed by anomalies. The method is established within the causal Bogoliubov-Shirkov-Epstein-Glaser approach to perturbative quantum field theory (which leads directly to a finite perturbative series and does not rely on an intermediate regularization). Our construction can be regarded as a direct implementation of Noether's method at the quantum level. We illustrate the method by constructing the pure Yang-Mills theory (where the relevant global symmetry is BRST symmetry), and the N = 1 supersymmetric model of Wess and Zumino. The whole construction is done before the so-called adiabatic limit is taken. Thus, all considerations regarding symmetry, unitarity and anomalies are well defined even for massless theories.     

A fixed point for quantum gravity

Using the 1/N expansion a fixed point of the renormalization group is found for quantized gravitational theories which is non-trivial in all dimensions, d, including four. Using the fixed point it is shown how Einstein's theory can be renormalized for 3<d<4. In four dimensions the pure Einstein theory does not exist, but the R + C_μναβ² theory does. It is shown how gravitational theories whose quantum lagrangians are scale invariant may be renormalized such that the scale invariance is broken only by the choice of the critical renormalization group trajectory. A comparison is made with the renormalization of four-fermion and Yukawa theories in 4?? dimensions which suggests that quantum gravity might exist in four dimensions even if those theories do not.