Supergravity supergraphs

We describe perturbation theory for supergravity in terms of superfields, using globally-supersymmetric gauge-breaking terms. In the more convinient gauges, the supergravity superfields are a real four-vector and a chiral scalar.     

Supergravity geometry in superspace

Recently, Duke and Teper have claimed that the Drell-Yan picture is not applicable in a large kinematic domain where it was applied previously. We point out an error in their arguments, and show that the Drell-Yan model can be applied in a much larger domain.     

Supergravity symmetries in superspace

We show the extension of the Forgacs-Manton Killing symmetry for gauge theories, to solutions, extended to superspace, of the d = 11 supergravity theory.     

Completeness in Supergravity Constructions

We prove that the supergravity r- and c-maps preserve completeness. As a consequence, any component \({\mathcal{H}}\) of a hypersurface {h = 1} defined by a homogeneous cubic polynomial h such that \({-\partial^2h}\) is a complete Riemannian metric on \({\mathcal{H}}\) defines a complete projective special Kähler manifold and any complete projective special Kähler manifold defines a complete quaternionic Kähler manifold of negative scalar curvature. We classify all complete quaternionic Kähler manifolds of dimension less or equal to 12 which are obtained in this way and describe some complete examples in 16 dimensions.     

On the unitarity of gauged non-compact WZNW strings

In this paper we investigate the unitarity of gauged non-compact WZNW strings, i.e., string theories formulated as G/H^′$G/H^{\prime }$ WZNW models, where G   is a non-compact group. These models represent string theories on non-trivial curved space–times with one time-like component. We will prove that for the class of models connected to Hermitian symmetric spaces, and a natural set of discrete highest weight representations, the BRST formulation, in which the gauging is defined through a BRST condition, yields unitarity. Unitarity requires the level times the Dynkin index to be an integer, as well as integer valued highest weights w.r.t. the compact subalgebra. We will also show that the BRST formulation is not equivalent to the conventional GKO coset formulation, defined by imposing a highest weight condition w.r.t. H^′$H^{\prime }$. The latter leads to non-unitary physical string states. This is, to our knowledge, the first example of a fundamental difference between the two formulations.     

On the general structure of gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten terms

The problem of gauging a closed form is considered. When the target manifold is a simple Lie group G, it is seen that there is no obstruction to the gauging of a subgroup H ∋ G if we may construct from the form a cocycle for the relative Lie algebra cohomology (or for the equivariant cohomology), and an explicit general expression for these cocycles is given. The common geometrical structure of the gauged closed forms and the D'Hoker and Weinberg effective actions of WZW type, as well as the obstructions for their existence, is also exhibited and explained.     

Supergravity and M-theory

Supergravity provides the effective field theories for string compactifications. The deformation of the maximal supergravities by non-abelian gauge interactions is only possible for a restricted class of charges. Generically these ‘gaugings’ involve a hierarchy of p-form fields which belong to specific representations of the duality group. The group-theoretical structure of this p-form hierarchy exhibits many interesting features. In the case of maximal supergravity the class of allowed deformations has intriguing connections with M/string theory. This study is based on a talk presented at Quantum gravity: challenges and perspectives, Heraeus Seminar, Bad Honnef, 14–16 April 2008.     

Covariant Field Equations in Supergravity

Covariance is a useful property for handling supergravity theories. In this paper, we prove a covariance property of supergravity field equations: under reasonable conditions, field equations of supergravity are covariant modulo other field equations. We prove that for any supergravity there exist such covariant equations of motion, other than the regular equations of motion, that are equivalent to the latter. The relations that we find between field equations and their covariant form can be used to obtain multiplets of field equations. In practice, the covariant field equations are easily found by simply covariantizing the ordinary field equations.     

On the unitarity of gauged non-compact world-sheet supersymmetric WZNW models

In this paper we generalize our investigation of the unitarity of non-compact WZNW models connected to Hermitian symmetric spaces to the N=1$N=1$ world-sheet supersymmetric extension of these models. We will prove that these models have a unitary spectrum in a BRST approach for antidominant highest weight representations if the level and weights of the gauged subalgebra are integers. We will find new critical string theories in 7 and 9 space–time dimensions.     

Supergravity in theory in 11 dimensions

We present the action and transformation laws of supergravity in 11 dimensions which is expected to be closely related to the O(8) theory in 4 dimensions after dimensional reduction.     

Stability in gauged extended supergravity

Extended supergravity theories with gauged SO(N) internal symmetry have, for N ≥ 4, scalar field potentials which are unbounded below. Nevertheless, it is argued that the theories have ground states with anti-de Sitter background geometry which are stable against fluctuations which vanish sufficiently fast at spatial infinity. Stability is implied because the appropriate conserved energy functional is positive for such fluctuations. Anti-de Sitter space is not globally hyperbolic, but the boundary conditions required for positive energy are also shown to give free field theories with well-defined Cauchy problem. New information on the particle representations of OSp(1, 4) supersymmetry is presented as part of the argument. Supersymmetry requires boundary conditions for spin 0 fields such that only the improved stress tensor leads to a conserved energy functional. Although the stability arguments support the view that gauged supergravity theories are acceptable quantum field theories, the problem of a large cosmological term in the Ads phase of the theories is still unsolved.     

Supergravity and field space democracy

If the action functional is determined uniquely by its symmetry properties, we say that this functional is perfect. We study the perfect functionals in the framework in which the space and field variables are on equal footing. This study leads to the natural multidimensional generalizations of supergravity.     

Supergravity with and without superspace

We show that the superspace formalism follows from the component formalism. After constructing the supervielbeins and superconnections off-shell in second-order formalism with the minimal set of auxiliary fields, we show that the resulting supertorsions satisfy the constraints of the various equivalent superspace approaches.     

Supergravity with one auxiliary spinor

We present an “intermediate” off-shell version of N = 1 supergravity and its tensor calculus. The supergravity multiplet has 16 + 16 field components. The formulation can be constrained to either of the minimal ones with 12 + 12 components, or enlarge by matter couplings to several 20 + 20 component versions. Self-coupled to its own axial gauge submultiplet it leads to spontaneous supersymmetry breaking in the form first discussed by Freedman and to a propagating gauge field.     

Two-Dimensional Supergravity in the Canonical Exterior Formalism

The main features of the different linear gravity theories are reviewed. In particular, the supersymmetric extension of the Jackiw–Teitelboim (1+1) linear gravity is considered in detail within the canonical exterior formalism. In this context, the role of the several fields are analyzed. The constraints and the field equation are found. Finally, this supergravity model is treated in the second-order formalism.Member of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.     

Maximal gauged supergravity in three dimensions

We construct maximally supersymmetric gauged N = 16 supergravity in three dimensions, thereby obtaining an entirely new class of anti--de Sitter supergravities. These models apparently cannot be derived from any known higher-dimensional theory and point to the existence of a new type of supergravity beyond D = 11. One of their noteworthy features is a non-Abelian generalization of the duality between scalar and vector fields in three dimensions. Among the possible gauge groups, SO(8) x SO(8) is distinguished as the maximal compact gauge group, but there are also more exotic possibilities such as F(4(-20)) x G2.