Superstring effects on D=4, N=1 supergravity

We give a lagrangian and supersymmetry transformation rules for the four-dimensional N=1 supergravity sector of superstring theories with their O(α′) corrections, obtained by the dimensional reduction á la Witten of the effective action of the ten-dimensional heterotic superstring. We also give general forms of O(α′ ″) corrections to supersymmetry transformation rules which arise through an axial vector superfield. Since our system is based on the ten-dimensional superstring without any auxiliary fields, our four-dimensional N=1 supergravity is free of auxiliary fields. Our point-field theory lagrangian is supposed to describe the mass-less fields in the untwisted sector of the ten-dimensional heterotic superstring propagating on orbifolds.     

Superstrings and the auxiliary field structure of supergravity

We construct the complete superfield of vertex operators corresponding to the four-dimensional N = 1 supergravity multiplet associated with the heterotic superstring. The supergravity fields are shown to consist of a graviton, gravitino, and two auxiliary fields and to form a new minimal supermultiplet. The role of R-invariance in new minimal supergravity is discussed.     

β-function approach to the Green-Schwarz superstring

We describe the calculation of one-loop β-functions for the Green-Schwarz heterotic superstring in a supergravity background. The calculation is considerably simplified by the use of a new set of superspace constraints. As expected, the one-loop β-functions vanish, since the constraints impose on the background the classical field equations of supergravity.     

Superspace geometry from D = 4, N = 1 heterotic superstrings

The presence of classical κ-supersymmetry invariance is shown to be consistent with an off-shell D = 4, N = 1 conformal supergravity background in the presence of a tensor multiplet. We derive a suitable set of constraints, via super Weyl rescaling, for a heterotic superstring in such a background. Starting from the geometry of 16-16 supergravity and gauging the R-symmetry with a composite connection, we derive a geometrical structure similar to that of new minimal supergravity.     

No renormalization of the N=1 supergravity theory derived from the heterotic string

We show that one-loop string effects do not alter the form of the leading terms in the low-energy effective ten-dimensional N=1 supergravity theory derived from the heterotic string. We extend this result to the four-dimensional N=1 supergravity theory obtained after compactification, showing in particular that its Kähler potential is not renormalized by string loop effects or by the exchange of Kaluza-Klein modes. We also demonstrate that the Kähler potential and the gauge kinetic function are not renormalized by one-loop string effects in a wide class of four-dimensional formulations of superstring theories.     

New D = 10, N = 1 superspace supergravity and local symmetries of superstrings

The superspace formulation of new D = 10, N = 1 supergravity is developed. It is shown that the background superspace of the new theory can be coupled to a test superstring in such a way that the local symmetries of the superstring are intact. This formulation necessarily makes use of the Vainberg construction so the action is analogous to the effective action for QCD with the WZW term. The results suggest that the ambiguity between the massless two-form and six-form in the SO(32) or E₈ × E₈ superstring theories can only be resolved by a gauge invariant, Lorentz-covariant formulation of superstring field theory.     

1616 supergravity coupled to matter: The low energy limit of the superstring

We analyze irreducible, N = 1 supergravity theories with 16 fermionic degrees of freedom. The lagrangians for pure $\text{16}\text{16}$ supergravity, and for $\text{16}\text{16}$ supergravity coupled to arbitrary chiral superfields are constructed. These theories are shown to have natural SU(1,1) non-compact symmetry. The low energy field theory limit of the superstring is conjectured to be of this type.     

The effective interactions of chiral families in four-dimensional superstrings

The low-energy effective interactions in four-dimensional superstrings with N = 2 and N = 1 space-time supersymmetry and massless twisted (family) sector are obtained. Our results rely on some general symmetry properties of superstring particle states and on tensor-calculus techniques for supergravity couplings. The novel feature is that the N = 2 quaternionic manifold and N = 1 Kähler space of the scalar superpartners of family multiplets are non-symmetric spaces whose structure can be obtained by “integrating out” the massive superstring modes.     

Manifestly supersymmetric O(α′) superstring corrections in new D = 10, N = 1 supergravity Yang-Mills theory

A systematic procedure in superspace to derive the O(α′) tree-level superstring corrections to the new D = 10, N = 1 (dual) supergravity Yang-Mills system is established. All the tree-level O(α′) corrections in the closed supersymmetry transformation laws are presented explicitly. These O(α′) corrections are regarded as a generalization of “matter” couplings in D = 10, N = 1 supergravity. The advantage of the superspace approach, based on superspace Bianchi identities, in comparison with the component formulation is elucidated. This new method is applicable to all anomaly-free D ⩽ 10 non-maximal supergravity theories, which utilize the Green-Schwarz mechanism. It also provides a way of introducing general higher-order powers of curvature tensors in D ⩽ 10 supergravity theories.     

Duality in the type-II superstring effective action

We derive the T-duality transformations that transform a general d = 10 solution of the type-IIA string with one isometry to a solution of the type-IIB string with one isometry and vice versa. In contrast to other superstring theories, the T-duality transformations are not related to a non-compact symmetry of a d = 9 supergravity theory. We also discuss S-duality in d = 9 and d = 10 and the relationship with eleven-dimensional supergravity theory. We apply these dualities to generate new solutions of the type-11A and type-IIB superstrings and of eleven-dimensional supergravity.     

Parisi-Sourlas fermions from Ramond superstring

We show that the zero energy limit of the Ramond superstring naturally describes Dirac fermions with an OSP(D + 1,1¦2) or Parisi-Sourlas supersymmetry, and establish an equivalence between ordinary Dirac fermions and a massive (0 + 1)-dimensional supergravity theory.     

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.     

Correlations between Gaugino and Sfermion masses in N=1 supergravity models

It is demonstrated that the observation of a light wino or zino together with an intermediate mass photino implies strong lower bounds for squark and slepton masses in the framework of minimal N=1 supergravity models. These bounds turn out to be even more restrictive within the recently proposed superstring motivated SU (5) model.     

Gravitational dressing of D-instantons

The non-perturbative corrections to the universal hypermultiplet moduli space metric in the type-IIA superstring compactification on a Calabi–Yau threefold are investigated in the presence of 4d, N=2 supergravity. These corrections come from multiple wrapping of the BPS (Euclidean) D2-branes around certain (BPS) Calabi–Yau 3-cycles, and they are known as the D-instantons. The exact universal hypermultiplet metric is governed by a quaternionic potential that satisfies the SU(∞) Toda equation. When the supergravity decouples, the metric is hyper-Kähler. We propose the mechanism that gravitationally dress any (D-instanton) hyper-Kähler metric to the (universal hypermultiplet) quaternionic metric of the same dimension.     

On a possible Wess-Zumino term in the heterotic string

We examine the low-energy limits of the one-particle irreducible one-loop amplitudes in the heterotic superstring for five gravitons, for three gravitons and two gauge bosons, and for one graviton and four gauge bosons. In agreement with general arguments, explicit calculation shows that there is a Wess-Zumino term in the low-energy effective action for D = 10 supergravity.     

New constraints on parameters in the minimal supersymmetric model

New constraints on parameters are found to avoid charge- and/or color-breaking minima and instability of the scalar potential in the minimal low energy supergravity model. They eliminate a wide region of parameters. As a result, m_t is tightly bounded in the no-scale model. They are also applicable to the superstring inspired model with no extra U(1).     

Manifestly supersymmetric extensions of (curvature)2-terms in six-dimensional N = 2 supergravity

A systematic and manifestly supersymmetric procedure for supersymmetrization of general (curvature)²-terms in N = 2 supergravity in six dimensions (D = 6) is presented in superspace. The general form of new terms for the supersymmetrization in supertranslation rules is given. As a by-product, the superspace structure of quaternionic Kähler manifolds is elucidated. Our method is the D = 6 application of our previously established formulation for the D = 10, N = 1 supergravity with the O(α′) superstring corrections.     

Ectoplasm has no topology

In a new approach to the theory of integration over Wess-Zumino supermanifolds, we suggest that a fundamental principle is their consistency with an “Ethereal Conjecture” that asserts the topology of the supermanifold must be generated essentially from its bosonic submanifold. This naturally leads to a theory of “ectoplasmic” integration based on super p-forms. One consequence of this approach is that the derivation of “density projection operators” becomes trivial in a number of supergravity theories.     

Accelerating universes from compactification on a warped conifold

We find a cosmological solution corresponding to the compactification of 10D supergravity on a warped conifold that easily circumvents the "no-go" theorem given for a warped or flux compactification, providing new perspectives for the study of supergravity or superstring theory in cosmological backgrounds. With fixed volume moduli of the internal space, the model can explain a physical Universe undergoing an accelerated expansion in the 4D Einstein frame, for a sufficiently long time. The solution found in the limit that the warp factor dependent on the radial coordinate y is extremized (giving a constant warping) is smooth and it supports a flat four-dimensional Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmology undergoing a period of accelerated expansion with slowly rolling or stabilized volume moduli.     

Unification of gravity and elementary particle interactions in 26 dimensions?

The presence of an 11-cocycle in ten-dimensional theories containing an E₈×E₈ Yang-Mills theory coupled to supergravity suggests that the fundamental theory is a 26-dimensional string theory based on the Leech lattice. A theory with equal numbers of bosons and fermions is constructed by truncating a certain natural infinite-dimensional representation of the Monster sporadic group. This theory appears to be a certain combination of pieces of heterotic and N = 2 superstring.