Alexander Sevrin, Wieland Staessens, Alexander Wijns
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8 pages, contribution to the proceedings of the Third Workshop of the RTN project 'Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe', Valencia, October 1 - 5, 2007
We present a manifestly supersymmetric description of A and B branes on Kaehler manifolds using a completely local N=2 superspace formulation of the world-sheet nonlinear sigma-model in the presence of a boundary. In particular, we show that an N=2 superspace description of type A boundaries is possible. This leads to a concrete realization of the still poorly understood coisotropic A branes. We also discuss briefly how the superspace description of a B brane provides an efficient way to compute higher loop beta-functions. In particular, we sketch how one obtains the fourth order derivative correction to the Born-Infeld action by using a beta-function method.
It is important to reveal the brane-bulk correspondence for understanding the brane world cosmology. When gravitational waves exist in the bulk, however, it is difficult to make the analysis of the interrelationship between the brane and the bulk. Hence, the minimal model which allows gravitational waves in the bulk would be useful. As for such models, we adopt the Bianchi type midi-superspace models. In particular, the effects of gravitational waves in the bulk on the brane cosmology is examined using the midi-superspace approach.
Recent developments in string and M theory rely heavily on supersymmetry suggesting that a revival of superspace techniques in ten and eleven dimensions may be advantageous. Here we discuss three topics of current interest where superspace is already playing an important role and where an improved understanding of superspace might provide additional insight into the issues involved.
F-theory requires a new Virasoro algebra, including $κ$-symmetry, with a worldvolume coordinate for each generator. (Similar is implied for the superstring.) Doubles of the spacetime coordinates are eliminated by selfduality, which now applies to all currents.
Tensionless super-p-branes in a generalized superspace with additional tensorial central charge coordinates may provide an extended object model for BPS preons, i.e. for the hypothetical constituents of M-theory preserving 31 of 32 supersymmetries [hep-th/0101113].
The gauge-fixed action of a `spacetime-filling' D3-brane with dilaton-axion coupling is formulated in N=1 superspace. We investigate its symmetries by paying special attention to a possible non-linearly realized extra (hidden) supersymmetry, and emphasize the need of a linear superfield coupled to an abelian Chern-Simons superfield to represent a dilaton-axion supermultiplet in the off-shell manifestly supersymmetric approach.
We use the superspace formulation of supergravity in eleven and ten dimensions to compute fermion couplings on the M2-brane and on D$p$-branes. In this formulation fermionic couplings arise naturally from the $θ$-expansion of the superfields from which the brane actions are constructed. The techniques we use and develop can in principle be applied to determine the fermionic couplings to general background fields up to arbitrary order. Starting with the superspace formulation of 11-dimensional supergravity, we use a geometric technique known as the `normal coordinate' method to obtain the $θ$-e…
We review the general procedure for the field-theoretical computation of wrapping effects in standard and beta-deformed N=4 super Yang-Mills by means of N=1 superspace techniques. In the undeformed theory, these methods allowed to find explicit results at four and five loops for two-impurity operators. In the deformed case, a general expression for the finite-size correction to the anomalous dimension of single-impurity operators at the critical order was obtained.
We review the salient features of spacetime and worldvolume supersymmetric super p-brane actions. These are sigma models for maps from a worldvolume superspace to the target superspace. For p-branes, the symmetries of the model depend crucially on the existence of closed super (p+1)-forms on a worldvolume superspace, built out of the pull-backs of the Kalb-Ramond super (p+1)-form in target superspace and its curvature. This formulation of super p-branes is usually referred to as the twistor-like formulation.
We classify canonical metric 3-algebra structures on matrix algebras and find novel three-dimensional conformally invariant actions in N=4 projective superspace based on them. These can be viewed as Chern-Simons theories with special matter content and couplings. We explore the relations of these actions with the N=2 actions based on generalized 3-Lie algebras found earlier and relate them to the original Bagger-Lambert-Gustavsson action.
How to gauge fix $\k$-symmetry for the super 0-brane action on $AdS_2 \times S^2$ in Killing gauge properly is discussed in order to find the superconformal mechanics which describes super 0-brane probes moving on $AdS_2 \times S^2$. The dependence on the coordinate frame for the proper Killing gauge is considered and the subtleties of gauge-fixing $\k$-symmetry in Killing gauge are analysed explicitly. It is found that the Killing gauge works indeed without the imcompatibility if the magnetic charge of the super 0-brane is nonzero.
We use the additional variables of suitably enlarged superspaces to write new actions for extended objects, with kappa-symmetry, in such a way that the tension emerges from them as an integration constant. Our actions correspond to the spacetime scale-invariant ones previously considered by Bergshoeff et al. once the worldvolume forms introduced there are reinterpreted in terms of fields associated with the coordinates of the enlarged superspaces. It is shown that the kappa-symmetry of the new actions is given by a certain type of right local transformations of the extended superspace groups. …
We calculate the beta-functions for an open string sigma-model in the presence of a U(1) background. Passing to N=2 boundary superspace, in which the background is fully characterized by a scalar potential, significantly facilitates the calculation. Performing the calculation through three loops yields the equations of motion up to five derivatives on the fieldstrengths, which upon integration gives the bosonic sector of the effective action for a single D-brane in trivial bulk background fields through four derivatives and to all orders in alpha'. Finally, the present calculation shows that d…
We give a brief account of the recently proposed N=3 superfield formulation of the N=6, 3D superconformal theory of Aharony et al (ABJM) describing a low-energy limit of the system of multiple M2-branes on the AdS_4 x S^7/Z_k background. This formulation is given in harmonic N=3 superspace and reveals a number of surprising new features. In particular, the sextic scalar potential of ABJM arises at the on-shell component level as the result of eliminating appropriate auxiliary fields, while there is no any explicit superpotential at the off-shell superfield level.
It is proved that a basic superembedding equation for the 2-dimensional worldsheet superspace $§^{(2|8+8)}$ embedded into D=10 type IIB superspace $M^{(10|16+16)}$ provides a universal, S-duality invariant description of a fundamental superstring and super-D1-brane. We work out generalized action principle, obtain superfield equations of motion for both these objects and find how the S-duality transformations relate the superfield equations of superstring and super-D1-brane. The superembedding of 6-dimensional worldsheet superspace $§^{(6|16)}$ into the D=10 type IIB superspace will probably p…
We discuss supersymmetry in twelve dimensions and present a covariant supersymmetric action for a brane with worldsheet signature (2,2), called a super (2+2)-brane, propagating in the osp(64,12) superspace. This superspace is explicitly constructed, and is trivial in the sense that the spinorial part is a trivial bundle over spacetime, unlike the twisted superspace of usual Poincare supersymmetry. For consistency, it is necessary to take a projection of the superspace. This is the same as the projection required for worldvolume supersymmetry. Upon compactification of this superspace, a torsion…
We discuss the rôle of enlarged superspaces in two seemingly different contexts, the structure of the $p$-brane actions and that of the Cremmer-Julia-Scherk eleven-dimensional supergravity. Both provide examples of a common principle: the existence of an {\it enlarged superspaces coordinates/fields correspondence} by which all the (worldvolume or spacetime) fields of the theory are associated to coordinates of enlarged superspaces. In the context of $p$-branes, enlarged superspaces may be used to construct manifestly supersymmetry-invariant Wess-Zumino terms and as a way of expressing the Born…
We lift the bosonic AdS_4 x CP^3 solution of type IIA supergravity preserving 24 supersymmetries to a D=10 superspace which has 32 Grassmann-odd directions. The type IIA superspace is obtained from D=11 via dimensional reduction of the coset superspace OSp(8|4)/SO(7) x SO(1,3) by realizing the latter as a Hopf fibration over the former. This construction generalizes to superspace the Hopf fibration of S^7 as a U(1) bundle over CP^3, and is suitable for writing the explicit form of Green-Schwarz-type actions encoding the dynamics of the type IIA string and branes in the AdS_4 x CP^3 superbackgr…
The N=1 superspace generalization of the 3-brane action in 6 dimensions with partially broken N=2 supersymmetry can be constructed using N=1 chiral, complex linear, or real linear superfields. The physical scalars of these multiplets give equivalent descriptions of the two transverse coordinates. The second supersymmetry is realized nonlinearly in all these actions. We derive the superspace brane actions and their nonlinear supersymmetry for both kinds of linear superfields when we break N=2 supersymmetry spontaneously. This breaking is realized in the free action of hypermultiplets that live …
The known extended algebras associated with p-branes are shown to be generated as topological charge algebras of the standard p-brane actions. A representation of the charges in terms of superspace forms is constructed. The charges are shown to be the same in standard/extended superspace formulations of the action.
We investigate the most general N=1 graded extension of the Poincare algebra, and find the corresponding supersymmetry transformations and the associated superspaces. We find that the supersymmetry for which {Q,Q} = P is not special, and in fact must be treated democratically with a whole class of supersymmetries. We show that there are two distinct types of grading, and a new class of general spinors is defined. The associated superspaces are shown to be either of the usual type, or flat with no torsion. p-branes are discussed in these general superspaces and twelve dimensions emerges as maxi…
We develop superembedding approach to multiple D-particle (D0-brane) system. In flat target D=10 type IIA superspace this produces the supersymmetric and Lorentz covariant version of the Matrix model equations. The equations following from our superembedding approach to multiple D0 in curved type IIA superspace shows the Myers 'dielectric brane effect', i.e. interaction with higher form gauge fields which do not interact with a single D0-brane.
Recently a description of linearized 5D supergravity in 4D, N =1 superspace was presented. By analyzing the on-shell component Lagrangian, this description was proven to be Lorentz invariant in five dimensions. This paper describes a geometric formulation of the 5D supergravity in 4D, N =1 superspace. Using this new formalism, the on-shell structure of the previous description is verified from purely superspace methods. This geometric description provides a connection to dimensionally reduced manifestly supersymmetric 5D supergravity.
Open branes ending on other branes, which may be referred to as the host branes, are studied in the superembedding formalism. The open brane, host brane and the target space in which they are both embedded are all taken to be supermanifolds. It is shown that the superspace constraints satisfied by the open brane are sufficient to determine the corresponding superspace constraints for the host branes, whose dynamics are determined by these constraints. As a byproduct, one also obtains information about the boundary of the open brane propagating in the host brane.
We argue that a description of supersymmetric extended objects from a unified geometric point of view requires an enlargement of superspace. To this aim we study in a systematic way how superspace groups and algebras arise from Grassmann spinors when these are assumed to be the only primary entities. In the process, we recover generalized spacetime superalgebras and extensions of supersymmetry found earlier. The enlargement of ordinary superspace with new parameters gives rise to extended superspace groups, on which manifestly supersymmetric actions may be constructed for various types of p-br…
We express the covariant actions of a super p-brane and the corresponding equations of motion, in the flat and curved superspaces, in terms of the Nambu (p+1)-brackets. These brackets make the (p+1)-algebra structure of super p-brane manifest. For the flat superspace, this reconstruction of the action also allows reformulating it in terms of two sets of differential forms.
Utilizing coset superspace approach, dual actions of super D1-and D3-branes on $AdS_5 \times S^5$ are constructed by carrying out duality transformation of world-volume U(1) gauge field. Resulting world-volume actions are shown to possess expected SL(2,{\bf Z}) properties. Crucial ingredient for deriving SL(2, {\bf Z}) transformation property of the D-brane actions is covariance of SU(2,2|4) coset superspace algebra under SO(2) rotation between two ten-dimensional Type IIB Majorana-Weyl spinors.
Closed super (p+2)-forms in target superspace are relevant for the construction of the usual super p-brane actions. Here we construct closed super (p+1)-forms on a {\it worldvolume superspace}. They are built out of the pull-backs of the Kalb-Ramond super (p+1)-form and its curvature. We propose a twistor-like formulation of a class of super p-branes which crucially depends on the existence of these closed super (p+1)-forms.
We obtain the Matrix model equations in the background of the maximally supersymmetric pp-wave solution of the 11D supergravity and discuss its relation with the Berenstein-Maldacena-Nastase (BMN) model.
We study a marginal deformation of N=4 Yang-Mills, with a real deformation parameter beta. This beta-deformed model has only N=1 supersymmetry and a U(1)xU(1) flavor symmetry. The introduction of a new superspace star-product allows us to formulate the theory in N=4 light-cone superspace, despite the fact that it has only N=1 supersymmetry. We show that this deformed theory is conformally invariant, in the planar approximation, by proving that its Green functions are ultra-violet finite to all orders in perturbation theory.
We study the tachyon and the RR field sourced by the $(m,n)$ ZZ D-branes in type 0 theories using three methods. We first use the mini-superspace approximation of the closed string wave functions of the tachyon and the RR scalar to probe these fields. These wave functions are then extended beyond the mini-superspace approximation using mild assumptions which are motivated by the properties of the corresponding wave functions in the mini-superspace limit. These are then used to probe the tachyon and the RR field sourced. Finally we study the space time fields sourced by the $(m,n)$ ZZ D-branes …
The action for the long wavelength oscillations of a non-BPS p=3 brane embedded in N=1, D=5 superspace is determined by means of the coset method. The D=4 world volume Nambu-Goldstone boson of broken translation invariance and the two D=4 world volume Weyl spinor Goldstinos of the completely broken supersymmetry describe the excitations of the brane into the broken space and superspace directions. The resulting action is an invariant synthesis of the Akulov-Volkov and Nambu-Goto actions. The D=4 antisymmetric tensor gauge theory action dual to the p=3 brane action is determined.
The nature of $κ$-symmmetry transformations is examined for p-branes embedded in a class of coset superspaces G/H, where G is an appropriate supergroup and H is the Lorentz subgroup. It is shown that one of the conditions $δZ^M E_M{}^a = 0$ which characterizes $κ$-symmetry transformations arises very naturally if they are implemented in terms of a right action of a subgroup of the supergroup G on the supergroup elements which represent the coset. Unlike the global left action of G on G/H (which gives rise to supersymmetry on the coset superspace), there is no canonically defined right action o…
We give a manifest supersymmetric description of A and B branes on Kahler manifolds using a completely local N=2 superspace formulation of the world-sheet nonlinear sigma-model in the presence of a boundary. In particular, we show that an N=2 superspace description of type A boundaries is possible, at least when the background is Kahler. This leads to an elegant and concrete setting for studying coisotropic A branes. Here, apgesan important role is played by the boundary potential, whose precise physical meaning remains to be fully understood. Duality transformations relating A and B branes in…
The main focus of this lecture is on extended objects in adS*S bosonic backgrounds with unbroken supersymmetry. The backgrounds are argued to be exact, special consideration are given to the non-maximal supersymmetry case. The near horizon superspace construction is explained. The superconformal symmetry appears in the worldvolume actions as the superisometry of the near horizon superspace, like the superPoincare symmetry of GS superstring and BST supermembrane in the flat superspace. The issues in gauge fixing of local kappa-symmetry are reviewed. We describe the features of the gauge-fixed I…
We give a brief review of Bagger-Lambert-Gustavsson (BLG) model, with emphasis on its version invariant under the volume preserving diffeomorphisms (SDiff3) symmetry. We describe the on-shell superfield formulation of this SDiff3 BLG model in standard N=8, d=3 superspace, as well as its superfield action in the pure spinor N=8 superspace. We also briefly address the Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena (ABJM/ABJ) model invariant under $SU(M)_{k}\times SU(N')_{-k}$ gauge symmetry, and discuss the possible form of their N=6 and, for the case of Chern-Simons level k=1,2, N=8 superfield equations.
We study the possibility to describe multiple M0-brane system in the frame of superembedding approach. The simplest framework is provided by the maximally supersymmetric non-Abelian SU(N) Yang-Mills supermultiplet on the d=1 N=16 superspace the embedding of which to the target D=11 supergravity superspace is determined by the so-called superembedding equation, characteristic of the worldline superspace of a single M0-brane. We use it to obtain a covariant generalization of the Matrix model equations describing the multiple M0-system in flat target superspace.
We have constructed a complete action for the system of N D0-branes in flat 10D type IIA superspace. It is invariant under the rigid spacetime supersymmetry and local worldline supersymmetry ($κ$-symmetry). This latter can be considered as supersymmetry of maximal 1d SU(N) SYM model which is made local by coupling to supergravity induced by embedding of the center of energy worldline into the target superspace. The spinor moving frame technique is essentially used to achieve such a coupling. We discuss the differences with Panda-Sorokin multiple 0-brane action and with the dimensionally reduce…
Motivated by Sen's spacetime prescription for the construction of theories with self-dual field strengths, we present a rigid superspace Lagrangian describing noninteracting tensor multiplets living on a stack of M5-branes and containing all the physical constraints on the fields, yielding the on-shell matching of the degrees of freedom. The geometric superspace approach adopted here offers a natural realization of superdiffeomorphisms and is particularly well suited for the coupling to supergravity. However, within this formulation the (anti-)self-duality property of the 3-form field strength…
New extended superspaces associated with topological charge algebras of the D-brane are used to construct D-brane actions without worldvolume gauge fields. The actions are shown to be kappa-symmetric under an appropriately chosen right group action.
The action of Weyl scale invariant p=2 brane which breaks the target super Weyl scale symmetry in the N=1, D=4 superspace down to the lower dimensional Weyl symmetry W(1,2) is derived by the approach of nonlinear realization. The dual form action for the Weyl scale invariant supersymmetric D2 brane is also constructed. The interactions of localized matter fields on the brane with the Nambu-Goldstone fields associated with the breaking of the symmetries in the superspace and one spatial translation directions are obtained through the Cartan one-forms of the Coset structures. The covariant deriv…
We present here a cohomological analysis of the new spacetime superalgebras that arise in the context of superbrane theory. They lead to enlarged superspaces that allow us to write D-brane actions in terms of fields associated with the additional superspace variables. This suggests that there is an extended superspace/worldvolume fields democracy for superbranes.
A supersymmetric string model in the D=11 superspace maximally extended by antisymmetric tensor bosonic coordinates, $Σ^{(528|32)}$, is proposed. It possesses 30 $κ$-symmetries and 32 target space supersymmetries. The usual preserved supersymmetry-$κ$-symmetry correspondence suggests that it describes the excitations of a BPS state preserving all but two supersymmetries. The model can also be formulated in any $Σ^{({n(n+1)\over 2}|n)}$ superspace, n=32 corresponding to D=11. It may also be treated as a `higher--spin generalization' of the usual Green--Schwarz superstring. Although the global s…
The kappa symmetry of an open M2-brane ending on an M5-brane requires geometrical constraints on the embedding of the system in target superspace. These constraints lead to the M5-brane equations of motion, which we review both in superspace and in component (i.e. in Green-Schwarz) formalism. We also describe the embedding of the chiral M5-brane theory in a non-chiral theory where the equations of motion follow from an action that involves a non-chiral 2-form potential, upon the imposition of a non-linear self-duality condition. In this formulation, we find a simplified form of the second orde…
A manifestly gauge invariant formulation of 5-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories in terms of 4d superfields is derived. It relies on a supersymmetry and gauge-covariant derivative operator in the $x^5$ direction. This formulation allows for a systematic study of higher-derivative operators by combining invariant 4d superfield expressions under the additional restriction of 5d Lorentz symmetry. In cases where the 5d theory is compactified on a gauge-symmetry-breaking orbifold, the formalism can be used for a simple discussion of possible brane operators invariant under the restricte…
We present an N = 2 world-sheet superspace description of D-branes on bihermitian or generalized Kaehler manifolds. To accomplish this, D-branes are considered as boundary conditions for a nonlinear sigma-model in what we call N = 2 boundary superspace. In this note the general formalism for such an approach is presented and the resulting classification sketched. This includes some remarks regarding target spaces whose parameterization includes semi-chiral superfields which have not appeared in the literature yet. In an accompanying note we turn to some examples and applications of the general…
The adS_{p+2} x S^{d-p-2} geometry of the near horizon branes is promoted to a supergeometry: the solution of the supergravity constraints for the vielbein, connection and form superfields are found. This supergeometry can be used for the construction of new superconformal theories. We also discuss the Green-Schwarz action for a type IIB string on adS_5 x S_5.
We study various configurations of rotating and wound D1-brane in AdS_5\times S^5 background and in its beta deformed version. We find giant magnon and spike solutions on the world-volume of D1-brane in AdS_5\times S^5 background. We also analyse the equations of motion of D1-brane in beta-deformed background. We show that in the limit of large electric flux on world-volume of D1-brane they reduce to the equations that describe collection of large number of fundamental strings. We also construct rotating and wound D1-brane solution that has two equal spins on S^5_γ.
We obtain a four-dimensional supergravity with spontaneously broken supersymmetry allowing for de Sitter vacua by coupling a superspace action of minimal N=1, D=4 supergravity to a locally supersymmetric generalization of the Volkov-Akulov goldstino action describing the dynamics of a space-filling non-BPS 3-brane in N=1, D=4 superspace. To the quadratic order in the goldstino field the obtained action coincides with earlier constructions of supergravities with nilpotent superfields, while matching the higher-order contributions will require a non-linear redefinition of fields. In the unitary …
The superfield equations of massive IIA supergravity, in the form of constraints on the superspace geometry, are shown to be implied by $κ$-symmetry of the topologically massive D-2-brane.
As the necessary background to construct from the aspect of Grothendieck's Algebraic Geometry dynamical fermionic D3-branes along the line of Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz superstrings in string theory, three pieces of the building blocks are given in the current notes: (1) basic $C^\infty$-algebrogeometric foundations of $d=4$, $N=1$ supersymmetry and $d=4$, $N=1$ superspace in physics, with emphasis on the partial $C^\infty$-ring structure on the function ring of the superspace, (2) the notion of SUSY-rep compatible hybrid connections on bundles over the superspace to address connections on the Chan-…
We review the geometrical approach to the description of the dynamics of super-p-branes, Dirichlet branes and the M5-brane, which is based on a generalization of the elements of surface theory to the description of the embedding of supersurfaces into target superspaces. Being manifestly supersymmetric in both, the superworldvolume of the brane and the target superspace, this approach unifies the Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond and the Green-Schwarz formulation and provides the fermionic kappa-symmetry of the Green-Schwarz-type superbrane actions with a clear geometrical meaning of standard worldvolume lo…
The construction of supersymmetric invariant integrals is discussed in a superspace setting. The formalism is applied to D=4, N=4 SYM and used to construct the F^2, F^4 and (F^5 + \del^2 F^4) terms in the effective action of coincident D-branes. The results are in agreement with those obtained by other methods. A simple derivation of the abelian \del^4 F^4 invariant is given and generalised to the non-abelian case. We also find some double-trace invariants. The invariants are interpreted in terms of superconformal multiplets: the F^2 and F^4 terms are given by one-half BPS multiplets, the (F^5…
We consider two dimensional non linear sigma models on few symmetric superspaces, which are supergroup manifolds of coset type. For those spaces where one loop beta function vanishes, two loop beta function is calculated and is shown to be zero. Vanishing of beta function in all orders of perturbation theory is shown for the principal chiral models on group supermanifolds with zero Killing form. Sigma models on symmetric (super) spaces on supergroup manifold $G/H$ are known to be classically integrable. We investigate a possibility to extend an argument of absence of quantum anomalies in non l…
We present a superspace formulation for super eightbrane theory based on massive type IIA supergravity in ten-dimensions. Remarkably, in addition to the 10-form superfield strength originally needed for super eightbrane, we also need an `over-ranked' 11-form superfield strength $H_{A_1... A_{11}}$ with identically vanishing purely bosonic component, in order to satisfy all the Bianchi identities. As a natural super p-brane formulation for the 11-form superfield strength, we present a super ninebrane action on 10-dimensional super-worldvolume invariant under a local fermionic $\k$-symmetry. We …
We consider the open superstring ending on a D-brane in the presence of a constant NS-NS B field, using the Green-Schwarz formalism. Quantizing in the light-cone gauge, we find that the anti-commutation relations for the fermionic variables of superspace remain unmodified. We also derive the unbroken supersymmetry algebra living on the D-brane. This establishes how the Moyal product is extended in a superspace formulation of non-commutative field theories. The superfield formulation of non-commutative supersymmetric field theories is briefly considered.
A superspace formulation of IIB supergravity which includes the field strengths of the duals of the usual physical one, three and five-form field strengths as well as the eleven-form field strength is given. The superembedding formalism is used to construct kappa-symmetric SL(2,R) covariant D-brane actions in an arbitrary supergravity background.
We present an explicit formulation of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories from $\D=$ 5 to 10 dimensions in the familiar $\N=1,\D=4$ superspace. This provides the rules for globally supersymmetric model building with extra dimensions and in particular allows us to simply write down $\N=1$ SUSY preserving interactions between bulk fields and fields localized on branes. We present a few applications of the formalism by way of illustration, including supersymmetric ``shining'' of bulk fields, orbifolds and localization of chiral fermions, anomaly inflow and super-Chern-Simons theories.
We study renormalizable nonlinear sigma-models in two dimensions with N=2 supersymmetry described in superspace in terms of chiral and complex linear superfields. The geometrical structure of the underlying manifold is investigated and the one-loop divergent contribution to the effective action is computed. The condition of vanishing beta-function allows to identify a class of models which satisfy this requirement and possess N=4 supersymmetry.
Using the superspace formalism, we compute for the two-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric non-linear $σ$-model, the order $(α^{\prime})^{2}$ $(R_{mnpq})^2$ (three-loop) correction to the central charge via the operator product expansion of the supercurrent with itself. The contribution vanishes, in agreement with previous results obtained from the usual $σ$-model $β$-function approach.
