We give a complete and consistent solution to string corrected (deformed), D=10, N=1 supergravity as the non-minimal low energy limit of string theory. We solve the Bianchi identities with suitable constraints to second order in the string slope parameter. In so doing we pave the way for continuing the study of the many applications of these results. We also modify, reaffirm and correct a previously given incomplete solution, and we introduce an important adjustment to the known first order results.
Deser-Zumino supergravity action for the graviton and gravitino pair, in four dimensions is deduced from the Nambu-Goto string action of the 26 dimension using the Principle of Equivalence.
Three-String junctions are allowed configurations in II B string theory which preserve one-fourth supersymmetry. We obtain the 11-dimensional supergravity solution for curved membranes corresponding to these three-string junctions.
Conformal supergravity arises in presently known formulations of twistor-string theory either via closed strings or via gauge-singlet open strings. We explore this sector of twistor-string theory, relating the relevant string modes to the particles and fields of conformal supergravity. We also use the twistor-string theory to compute some tree level scattering amplitudes with supergravitons, and compare to expectations from conformal supergravity. Since the supergravitons interact with the same coupling constant as the Yang-Mills fields, conformal supergravity states will contribute to loop am…
We discuss the connection between Matrix string theory and the DLCQ of string theory. Using this connection we describe the sense in which perturbative string amplitudes are reproduced in the Matrix string theory. Using recent realization of the connection between SYM and Supergravity, we suggest how to describe Matrix theory with non-flat backgrounds.
A universal effective supergravity Lagrangian describing the thermal phases of heterotic strings on T^4 x S^1, IIA and IIB strings on K^3 x S^1 is constructed. The resulting non-perturbative phase structure is discussed.
We reconsider the well-known issue of string corrections to Supergravity theory. Our treatment is carried out to second order in the string slope parameter. We establish a procedure for solving the Bianchi identities in the non minimal case, and we solve a long standing problem in the perturbative expansion of D=10, N=1 string corrected Supergravity, obtaining the H sector tensors, torsions and curvatures.
The physical states of N=4 conformal supergravity in four dimensions occur in twistor-string theory by Berkovits and Witten(hep-th/0406051). We study two alternative versions of twistor-string theory based on the B-model of weighted projective space WCP^{3|2} and based on a certain construction involving open strings. The spacetime fields described by the twistor superfields contain the physical states of N=1 conformal supergravity from above N=4 superspace approach.
I discuss the role of quantum effects in the phenomenology of effective supergravity theories from compactification of the weakly coupled heterotic string. An accurate incorporation of these effects requires a regularization procedure that respects local supersymmetry and BRST invariance and that retains information associated with the cut-off scale, which has physical meaning in an effective theory. I briefly outline the Pauli-Villars regularization procedure, describe some applications, and comment on what remains to be done to fully define the effective quantum field theory.
We construct the ambitwistor pure spinor string in a general type II supergravity background in the semi-classical regime. Almost all supergravity constraints are obtained from nilpotency of the BRST charge and further consistency conditions from additional world-sheet symmetries. We also discuss the case of $AdS_5\times S^5$ background.
A derivation of N=1 supergravity action from string theory is presented. Starting from a Nambu-Goto bosonic string, matter field is introduced to obtain a superstring in four dimension. The excitation quanta of this string contain graviton and the gravitino. Using the principle of equivalence, the action in curved space time are found and the sum of them is the Deser-Zumino N=1 supergravity action. The energy tensor is Lorentz invariant due to supersymmetry.
In these two lectures, delivered at the XXXVII Karpacz Winter School, February 2001, I review some applications of superspace in various topics related to string theory and M-theory. The first lecture is mainly devoted to descriptions of brane dynamics formulated in supergravity backgrounds. The second lecture concerns the use of superspace techniques for determining consistent interactions in supersymmetric gauge theory and supergravity, e.g. alpha'-corrections from string/M-theory.
A Closed string field theory action is formulated for $\mathcal N$ =8 self-dual supergravity which is off-shell and Lorentz covariant. The bosonic truncation in the quantum field theory limit gives the Plebanski type of action in the super space.
The equations of motion of anomaly-free supergravity are shown to fulfil (to all orders in $α'$) a differential condition corresponding to the one relating the Weyl anomaly coefficients for a non-linear sigma model representing a (heterotic) string propagating in a non-trivial background. This supports the possibility that anomaly-free supergravity could provide the complete massless effective theory for the heterotic string.
In this report we obtain explicit string-like solutions of equations of motion of massive heterotic supergravity recently obtained by Bergshoeff, Roo and Eyras. We also find consistent string source which can be embedded in these backgrounds when space-time dimension is greater than or equal to six.
We complete the solution to string corrected (deformed), D=10, N=1 Supergravity as the non-minimal low energy limit of string theory. We reaffirm a previously given solution, and we make important corrections to that solution. We solve what was an apparently intractable Bianchi identity in superspace, and we introduce a new important modification to the known first order results. In so doing we show that this approach to string corrected supergravity is indeed a consistent approach and we pave the way for many applications of the results.
We solve the non-minimal case of string corrected D=10, N=1 Supergravity as the low energy limit of string theory. We find a consistent set of solutions to the Bianchi identities in the H sector, and we also find the torsions and curvatures at second order in the string slope parameter. In so doing we solve a long standing problem in the non minimal case of the perturbative expansion.
Magnetic BPS string solutions preserving quarter of supersymmetry are obtained for all abelian gauged d=5 N=2 supergravity theories coupled to vector supermultiplets. Due to a ``generalised Dirac quantization'' condition satisfied by the minimized magnetic central charge, the string metric takes a universal form for all five dimensional gauged theories.
We give an elementary introduction to black holes in supergravity and string theory. The focus is on BPS solutions in four- and higher-dimensional supergravity and string theory. Basic ideas and techniques are explained in detail, including exercises with solutions.
We construct new half-BPS cosmic string solutions in D=4 N=2 supergravity compatible with a consistent truncation to N=1 supergravity where they describe D-term cosmic strings. The constant Fayet-Iliopoulos term in the N=1 D-term is not put in by hand but is geometrically engineered by a gauging in the mother N=2 supergravity theory. The coupling of the N=2 vector multiplets is characterized by a cubic prepotential admitting an axion-dilaton field, a common property of many compactifications of string theory. The axion-dilaton field survives the truncation to N=1 supergravity. On the string co…
We find the comlete solution to ten-dimensional supergravity coupled to a three-form field strength, given the ``standard ansatz" for the fields, and show that in addition to the well-known elementary and solitonic (heterotic) string solutions, one of the possibilities is an (unstable) elementary type I string solution.
We show the existence of solitonic solutions of five-dimensional supergravity, which can be interpreted as global cosmic strings in our universe. They possess the same mathematical structure as the stringy cosmic strings studied by Greene, Shapere, Vafa and Yau, while the size of the extra space and the value of the extra-space component of the gauge field vary from place to place around the string in our model. We also show that supersymmetry is partially broken in the presence of the global strings.
Puff Field Theory (PFT) is an example of a non-local field theory which arises from a novel embedding of D-branes in Melvin universe. We study several rotating and pulsating string solutions of the F-string equations of motion in the supergravity dual of the PFT. Further, we find a PP-wave geometry from this nonlocal spacetime by applying a Penrose limit and comment on its similarity with the maximally supersymmetric PP-wave background.
We extend the system of ungauged N=2, d=4 supergravity coupled to vector multiplets and hypermultiplets with 2-form potentials. The maximal number of 2-form potentials that one may introduce is equal to the number of isometries of either the special Kaehler or quaternionic Kaehler sigma model. We show that the local supersymmetry algebra can be realized on the 2-form potentials. These 2-forms couple electrically to strings which we refer to as stringy cosmic strings. The 1/2 BPS bosonic world-sheet actions for these strings are constructed and we discuss the properties of the 1/2 BPS stringy c…
We construct the first rotating string solution in 6-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet supergravity, carrying both electric and magnetic charges. By embedding the known rotating string solution of the 2-derivative theory into 6-dimensional off-shell supergravity, the Killing spinors associated with the underlying supersymmetry can be made off-shell and are universal to all off-shell supergravity models based on the same field content. The near-horizon geometry is S^3 fibred over the extremal BTZ black hole, locally isomorphic to AdS_3*S^3. We compute the higher-derivative corrections to the Br…
We revisit Weyl invariance of string theories in generalized supergravity backgrounds. In the previous work arXiv:1703.09213, a possible counterterm was constructed, but it seems to be a point of controversy in some literatures whether it is non-local or not. To settle down this issue, we show that the counterterm may be local and exactly cancels out the one-loop trace anomaly in generalized supergravity backgrounds.
We calculate the supergravity fields sourced by a D-brane with a null travelling wave from disk amplitudes in type IIB string theory compactified on T^4 x S^1. The amplitudes reproduce all the non-trivial features of the previously known two-charge supergravity solutions in the D-brane/momentum frame, providing a direct link between the microscopic bound states and their macroscopic descriptions.
We use Pure Spinor String Theory to construct suitable building blocks to arrange the structure of supergravity amplitudes with n-points and at higher loops in a very convenient way. Following Mafra et al. proposal for N=4 super Yang-Mills amplitudes, we discuss its generalization to supergravity amplitudes. In particular, we first derive the building blocks for closed string amplitudes from closed vertices showing that, because of the factorization, several results of open string theory can be used; nevertheless, also new structures emerge. We provide a first list of these new ingredients and…
Recent developments in string theory suggest that cosmic strings could be formed at the end of brane inflation. Supergravity provides a realistic model to study the properties of strings arising in brane inflation. Whilst the properties of cosmic strings in flat space-time have been extensively studied there are significant complications in the presence of gravity. We study the effects of gravitation on cosmic strings arising in supergravity. Fermion zero modes are a common feature of cosmic strings, and generically occur in supersymmetric models. The corresponding massless currents can give r…
We study the non-critical space-time non-commutative open string (NCOS) theory using a dual supergravity description in terms of a certain near-horizon limit of the F1-Dp bound state. We find the thermodynamics of NCOS theory from supergravity. The thermodynamics is equivalent to Yang-Mills theory on a commutative space-time. We argue that this fact does not have to be in contradiction with the expected Hagedorn behaviour of NCOS theory. To support this we consider string corrections to the thermodynamics. We also discuss the relation to Little String Theory in 6 dimensions.
We study the propagation of a massless minimally coupled scalar in the near horizon geometry of non-extremal NS5-branes. Using the holographic principle for dilatonic backgrounds we compute the two-point function of an operator in Little String Theory at the Hagedorn temperature. We then comment on relations with correlation functions in two dimensional string theory.
We show that a choice of Pauli-Villars regulators allows the cancellation of all conformal and chiral anomalies in an effective field theory from Z_3 compactification of the heterotic string with two Wilson lines and an anomalous U(1).
We examine SL(2, Z) anomalies in ten and eight-dimensional supergravities, the induced local counterterms and their realization in string theory. Composite connections play an important role in the cancellation mechanism. At the same time their global properties lead to novel non-trivial consistency constraints on compactifications.
We study stabilizations of the supersymmetry breaking runaway quiver in string embeddings. Calculations are performed in four dimensional effective supergravity. Constraints on closed string fields in a type IIA construction are given. The particular case of stabilization by stringy instanton effects in a type IIB model is considered.
We derive Lifshitz configurations in string theory for general dynamical exponents z \geq 1. We begin by obtaining simple Li x Omega solutions to supergravities in diverse dimensions, with Omega a compact constant curvature manifold. Then we uplift the solutions to ten dimensions, providing configurations that correspond to warped compactifications in Type II string theory.
This is an account of lectures that were given at TASI 2005, the Shanghai Summer School in M-theory 2005 and the Perimeter Institute. I review 1) the derivation of the potential for chiral scalar fields in ${\cal N}$=1 supergravity 2) the relation between F and D terms for chiral scalars, Weyl anomalies and the generation of non-perturbative terms in the superpotential and 3) the derivation of effective potentials for light moduli in type IIB string theory.
These lectures aim to provide a global picture of the spaces of consistent quantum supergravity theories and string vacua in higher dimensions. The lectures focus on theories in the even dimensions 10, 8, and 6. Supersymmetry, along with with anomaly cancellation and other quantum constraints, places strong limitations on the set of physical theories which can be consistently coupled to gravity in higher-dimensional space-times. As the dimensionality of space-time decreases, the range of possible supergravity theories and the set of known string vacuum constructions expand. These lectures deve…
The well known N=2 string theory describes self-dual gravity, as was shown by Ooguri and Vafa sometime ago. In search of a variant of this theory which would describe self-dual supergravity in 2+2 dimensions, we have constructed two new N=2 strings theories in which the target space is a superspace. Both theories contain massless scalar and spinor fields in their spectrum, and one of them has spacetime supersymmetry. However, we find that the interactions of these fields do not correspond to those of self-dual supergravity. In our construction, we have used the basic (2,2) superspace variables…
We consistently incorporate Yang Mills matter fields into string corrected (deformed), D=10, N=1 Supergravity. We solve the Bianchi identities within the framework of the modified beta function favored constraints to second order in the string slope parameter $\g$ also including the Yang Mills fields. In the torsion, curvature and H sectors we find that a consistent solution is readily obtained with a Yang Mills modified supercurrent $A_{abc}$. We find a solution in the F sector following our previously developed method.
In this review we show that a Clifford algebra possesses a unique irreducible representation; the spinor representation. We discuss what types of spinors can exist in Minkowski space-times and we explain how to construct all the supersymmetry algebras that contain a given space-time Lie algebra. After deriving the irreducible representations of the superymmetry algebras, we explain how to use them to systematically construct supergravity theories. We give the maximally supersymmetric supergravity theories in ten and eleven dimensions and discuss their properties. We find which superbranes can …
Utilizing a first-order perturbative superspace approach, we derive the bosonic equations of motion for the 10D, N = 1 supergravity fields. We give the Lagrangian corresponding to these equations derived from superspace geometry. Moreover, the equivalence of this Lagrangian to the first-order perturbative component level Lagrangian of anomaly-free supergravity is proven. Our treatment covers both the two-form and six-form formulations.
We calculate the scalar potential of supersymmetric QCD (in the regime N_f < N_c) coupled to N=1 supergravity with moduli-dependent gauge kinetic function and masses. The gauge dynamics are described by the Taylor-Veneziano-Yankielowicz superpotential for composite effective fields. The potential can be expanded about the ``truncated'' point in the gaugino and matter condensate directions in order to find corrections to the globally supersymmetric minimum. The results are relevant to the phenomenology of supersymmetry-breaking in string-inspired supergravity models, and also to recent work on …
The $κ$--anomaly cancellation mechanism in the heterotic superstring determines the superspace constraints for N=1, D=10 Supergravity--Super--Yang--Mills theory. We point out that the constraints found recently in this way appear to disagree with superspace solutions found in the past. We solve this puzzle establishing perfect agreement between the two methods.
As open N=2 or 4 strings describe self-dual N=4 super Yang-Mills in 2+2 dimensions, the corresponding closed (heterotic) strings describe self-dual ungauged (gauged) N=8 supergravity. These theories are conveniently formulated in a chiral superspace with general supercoordinate and local OSp(8|2) gauge invariances. The super-light-cone and covariant-component actions are analyzed. Because only half the Lorentz group is gauged, the gravity field equation is just the vanishing of the torsion.
We describe new half-BPS cosmic string solutions in N=2, d=4 supergravity coupled to one vector multiplet and one hypermultiplet. They are closely related to D-term strings in N=1 supergravity. Fields of the N=2 theory that are frozen in the solution contribute to the triplet moment map of the quaternionic isometries and leave their trace in N=1 as a constant Fayet-Iliopoulos term. The choice of U(1) gauging and of special geometry are crucial. The construction gives rise to a non-minimal Kaehler potential and can be generalized to higher dimensional quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds.
We reconsider the Enriques Calabi Yau (FHSV) model and its string derivation and argue that the Octonionic magic supergravity theory admits a string interpretation closely related to the Enriques model. The uplift to D=6 of the Octonionic magic model has 16 abelian vectors related to the rank of Type I and Heterotic strings.
A new heterotic N=2 string with manifest target space supersymmetry is constructed by combining a conventional N=2 string in the right-moving sector and a Green-Schwarz-Berkovits type string in the left-moving sector. The corresponding sigma model is then obtained by turning on background fields for the massless excitations. We compute the beta functions and we partially check the OPE's of the superconformal algebra perturbatively in $α'$, all in superspace. The resulting field equations describe N=1 self-dual supergravity.
We demonstrate how duality invariance of the low energy expansion of the four-graviton amplitude in type II string theory determines the precise coefficients of multiloop logarithmic ultraviolet divergences of maximal supergravity in various dimensions. This is illustrated by the explicit moduli-dependence of terms of the form D^{2k}R^4, with k<= 3, in the effective action. Furthermore, we show that in the supergravity limit the perturbative contributions are swamped by an accumulation of non-perturbative effects of zero-action instantons.
It is shown in a quantum-mechanically exact manner that a supersymmetric and $κ$-symmetric D-string action in a general type IIB supergravity background is transformed to a form of the type IIB Green-Schwarz superstring action with the SL(2,Z) covariant tension through an S-duality transformation. This result precisely proves a conjecture mentioned previously that the SL(2,Z) S-duality of a super D-string action in a flat background is also valid even in a curved IIB background geometry. We point further out the validity of the more generalized conjecture that various duality relations of supe…
We consider a minimally coupled massless scalar propagating in the background of NS5-branes in the presence of a 2-form RR electric field. The supergravity solution also called the (NS5,D1) bound state in the appropriate decoupling limit is the holographic dual of Open D-string (OD1) theory. Using this information, we compute the two-point function of the operators in OD1 theory which couples to the massless string states such as the dilaton. We will indicate how to obtain the absorption cross-section of a scalar on NS5-branes (i.e. Little String Theory (LST)) obtained earlier, from our result…
We will report on recent advances in the understanding of non-perturbative interconnections between different string dualities. Weak-strong coupling duality (S-duality) and T-duality (symmetry under compactification on dual tori) allows one to compare and explore the strong coupling regime of seemingly unrelated theories. These theories naturally merge in a quantum version of supergravity called M-theory. The dynamical role of `branes' of different nature and the new dynamical tool of (M)atrix formulation of M-theory will be briefly mentioned.
We display the vertex operators for all states in the conformal supergravity sector of the twistor string, as outlined by Berkovits and Witten. These include `dipole' states, which are pairs of supergravitons that do not diagonalize the translation generators. We use canonical quantization of the open string version of Berkovits, and compute N-point tree level scattering amplitudes for gravitons, gluons and scalars. We reproduce the Berkovits-Witten formula for maximal helicity violating (MHV) amplitudes (which they derived using path integrals), and extend their results to the dipole pairs. W…
We find U(1)_{E} \times U(1)_{M} non-extremal black hole solutions of 6-dimensional Kaluza-Klein supergravity theories. Extremal solutions were found by Cvetič and Youm\cite{C-Y}. Multi black hole solutions are also presented. After electro-magnetic duality transformation is performed, these multi black hole solutions are mapped into the the exact solutions found by Horowitz and Tseytlin\cite{H-T} in 5-dimensional string theory compactified into 4-dimensions. The massless fields of this theory can be embedded into the heterotic string theory compactified on a 6-torus. Rotating black hole solut…
By rigorous application of the Hamiltonian methods we show that the ABC-formulation of the Siegel superparticle admits consistent minimal coupling to external supergravity. The consistency check proves to involve all the supergravity constraints.
We study static, spherically symmetric, and purely magnetic solutions of the N=4 gauged supergravity in four dimensions. A systematic analysis of the supersymmetry conditions reveals solutions which preserve 1/4 of the supersymmetries and are characterized by a BPS-monopole-type gauge field and a globally hyperbolic, everywhere regular geometry. We show that the theory in which these solutions arise can be obtained via compactification of ten-dimensional supergravity on the group manifold. This result is then used to lift the solutions to ten dimensions.
We obtain explicit time dependent brane solutions in M-theory as well as in string theory by solving the reduced equations of motion (which follow from 11-d supergravity) for a class of brane solutions in curved backgrounds. The behaviour of our solutions in both asymptotic and near-horizon limits are studied. It is shown that our time dependent solutions serve as explicit examples of branes in singular, cosmological backgrounds. In some special cases the asymptotic and the boundary AdS solutions can be identified as Milne X R^n spacetime.
Time-dependent solutions of supergravity and string theory are studied. The examples are obtained from de Sitter deformation of gauge/gravity dualities, analytical continuation of static solutions, and ``exactly solvable'' worldsheet models. Among other things, it is shown that turning on a Hubble parameter in the background of a confining gauge theory in four dimensions can restore chiral symmetry. Some of the solutions obtained from analytical continuation have the interpretation of a universe with a bounce separating a big bang from a big crunch singularity. In the worldsheet context, it is…
We describe minimal supergravity models where supersymmetry is non-linearly realized via constrained superfields. We show that the resulting actions differ from the so called "de Sitter" supergravities because we consider constraints eliminating directly the auxiliary fields of the gravity multiplet.
