Three form potential in (special) minimal supergravity superspace and supermembrane supercurrent
Igor A. Bandos, Carlos Meliveo
备注：
18 pages, no figures. V2: Important references added. The abstract and presentation have been changed to reflect the overloop with that. Submitted to the QTS7 Proceedings. J. Phys. style used
This contribution begins the study of the complete superfield Lagrangian description of the interacting system of D=4 N=1 supergravity (SUGRA) and supermembrane. Firstly, we review a 'three form supergravity' by Ovrut and Waldram, which we prefer to call 'special minimal supergravity'. This off-shell formulation of simple SUGRA is appropriate for our purposes as the supermembrane action contains the so-called Wess-Zumino term given by the integral over a three form potential in superspace, C3. We describe this formulation in the frame of Wess--Zumino superfield approach, showing how the basic variations of minimal SUGRA are restricted by the conditions of the existence of a three-form potential C3 in its superspace. In this language the effect of dynamical generation of cosmological constant, known to be characteristic for this formulation of SUGRA, appears in its superfield form, first described by Ogievetsky and Sokatchev in their formulation of SUGRA as a theory of axial vector superfield. Secondly, we vary the supermembrane action with respect to the special minimal SUGRA superfields (basic variations) and obtain the supercurrent superfields as well as the supergravity superfield equations with the supermembrane contributions.
We calculate all of vielbein superfields up to second order in anticommuting coordinates in terms of the component fields of 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity by using `Gauge completion'. This configuration of superspace holds the $κ$-symmetry for supermembrane Lagrangian and represents 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity.
We give a description of supermembranes in nontrivial target-space geometries. A special class are the $AdS_4\times S^7$ and $AdS_7\times S^4$ spaces that have the maximal number of 32 supersymmetries.
We present a superspace formulation of N=1 eleven-dimensional supergravity with no manifest local Lorentz covariance, which we call teleparallel superspace. This formulation will be of great importance, when we deal with other supergravity theories in dimensions higher than eleven dimensions, or a possible formulation of noncommutative supergravity. As an illustrative example, we apply our teleparallel superspace formulation to the case of N=1 supergravity in twelve-dimensions. We also show the advantage of teleparallel superspace as backgrounds for supermembrane action.
We construct part of the superspace vielbein and tensor gauge field in terms of the component fields of 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity. The result can be utilized to describe supermembranes and corresponding matrix models for Dirichlet particles in nontrivial supergravity backgrounds to second order in anticommuting coordinates. We exhibit the kappa-invariance of the corresponding supermembrane action, which at this order holds for unrestricted supergravity backgrounds, the supersymmetry covariance and the resulting surface terms in the action.
We compute part of the superfield in terms of the component fields of 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity by using `Gauge completion' in 2nd-order formalism. The result is the same as was derived recently in 1.5-order formalism by B. de Wit, K. Peeters and J. Plefka. We use 2nd-order formalism because in order to hold $κ$-invariance generally 2nd-order formalism is more hopeful and simpler than 1.5-order formalism.
Covariant field equations of M-fivebrane in eleven dimensional curved superspace are obtained from the requirement of kappa-symmetry of an open supermembrane ending on a fivebrane. The worldvolume of the latter is a (6|16) dimensional supermanifold embedded in the (11|32) dimensional target superspace. The kappa-symmetry of the system imposes a constraint on this embedding, and a constraint on a modified super 3-form field strength on the fivebrane worldvolume. These constraints govern the dynamics of the M-fivebrane.
We present non-Abelian gaugings of supermembrane for general isometries for compactifications from eleven-dimensions, starting with Abelian case as a guide. We introduce a super Killing vector in eleven-dimensional superspace for a non-Abelian group G associated with the compact space B for a general compactification, and couple it to a non-Abelian gauge field on the world-volume. As a technical tool, we use teleparallel superspace with no manifest local Lorentz covariance. Interestingly, the coupling constant is quantized for the non-Abelian group G, due to its generally non-trivial mapping π…
The M2-brane is studied from the perspective of superembeddings. We review the derivation of the M2-brane dynamics and the supergravity constraints from the standard superembedding constraint and we discuss explicitly the induced d=3, N=8 superconformal geometry on the worldvolume. We show that the gauged supermembrane, for a target space with a U(1) isometry, is the standard D2-brane in a type IIA supergravity background. In particular, the D2-brane action, complete with the Dirac-Born-Infeld term, arises from the gauged Wess-Zumino worldvolume 4-form via the brane action principle. The discu…
We revise the twistor--like superfield approach to describing super--p--branes by use of the basic principles of the group--manifold approach \cite{rheo}. A super--p--brane action is constructed solely of geometrical objects as the integral over a (p+1)--surface. The Lagrangian is the external product of supervielbein differential forms in world supersurface and target superspace without any use of Lagrange multipliers. This allows one to escape the problem of infinite irreducible symmetries and redundant propagating fields. All the constraints on the geometry of world supersurface and the con…
Building on a previous derivation of the local chiral projector for a two dimensional superspace with eight real supercharges, we provide the complete density projection formula required for locally supersymmetrical theories in this context. The derivation of this result is shown to be very efficient using techniques based on the Ectoplasmic construction of local measures in superspace.
We calculate a component of connection superfields and Lorentz superparameter at second order in anticommuting coordinates in terms of the component fields of 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity by using `Gauge completion'. This configuration of superspace holds the $κ$-symmetry for supermembrane Lagrangian and represents 11-dimensional on-shell supergravity.
We derive the superconformal transformation properties of the supercurrent for N=1 supersymmetric QED in four dimensions within the superfield formalism. Superconformal Ward identities for Green functions involving insertions of the supercurrent are conveniently derived by coupling the supercurrent to the appropriate prepotential of a classical curved superspace background, and by combining superdiffeomorphisms and super Weyl transformations. We determine all superconformal anomalies of SQED on curved superspace within an all-order perturbative approach and derive a local Callan-Symanzik equat…
Eleven-dimensional supergravity can be formulated in superspaces locally of the form $\mathbf X\times Y$ where $\mathbf X$ is 4D $N=1$ conformal superspace and $Y$ is an arbitrary 7-manifold admitting a $G_2$-structure. The eleven-dimensional 3-form and the stable 3-form on $Y$ define the lowest component of a gauge superfield on $\mathbf X \times Y$ that is chiral as a superfield on $\mathbf X$. This chiral field is part of a tensor hierarchy giving rise to a superspace Chern-Simons action and its real field strength defines a lifting of the Hitchin functional on $Y$ to the $G_2$ superspace $…
We study supersymmetry breaking in theories with non-minimal multiplets (such as the complex linear or CNM multiplets), by using superspace higher derivative terms which give rise to new supersymmetry breaking vacuum solutions on top of the standard supersymmetric vacuum. We illustrate the decoupling of the additional massive sectors inside the complex linear and the CNM multiplets and show that only the Goldstino sector is left in the low energy limit. We also discuss the duality between non-minimal scalar multiplets and chiral multiplets in the presence of superspace higher derivatives. From…
Long ago, Achucarro and Townsend discovered that in three dimensions (3D) N-extended anti-de Sitter (AdS) supergravity exists in several incarnations, which were called the (p,q) AdS supergravity theories with non-negative integers p>=q such that N=p+q. Using the superspace approach to 3D N-extended supergravity developed in arXiv:1101.4013, we present three superfield formulations for N=2 supergravity that allow for well defined cosmological terms and supersymmetric AdS solutions. The conformal compensators corresponding to these theories are respectively: (i) a chiral scalar multiplet: (ii) …
In this thesis we have obtained and studied the complete set of superfield equations of motion for the interacting system of four-dimensional supermembrane and dynamical scalar multiplet. This study provides the first example of superfield equations for interacting system involving matter superfields and extended supersymmetric object, as well as the first set of superfield equations of motion for a dynamical system which includes supermembrane. The action for a supermembrane in a N = 1 D = 4 chiral superfield background has been also presented for the first time. We have obtained the complete…
We construct N=2 affine current algebras for the superalgebras sl(n|n-1)^{(1)} in terms of N=2 supercurrents subjected to nonlinear constraints and discuss the general procedure of the hamiltonian reduction in N=2 superspace at the classical level. We consider in detail the simplest case of N=2 sl(2|1)^{(1)} and show how N=2 superconformal algebra in N=2 superspace follows via the hamiltonian reduction. Applying the hamiltonian reduction to the case of N=2 sl(3|2)^{(1)}, we find two new extended N=2 superconformal algebras in a manifestly supersymmetric N=2 superfield form. Decoupling of four …
A conjectured finite M-theory based on eleven-dimensional supergravity formulated in a superspace with a non-anticommutative <>-product of field operators is proposed. Supermembranes are incorporated in the superspace <>-product formalism. When the deformed supersymmetry invariant action of eleven-dimensional supergravity theory is expanded about the standard supersymmetry invariant action, the spontaneously compactified M-theory can yield a four-dimensional de Sitter spacetime inflationary solution with dark energy described by the four-form F-fields. A fit to the present cosmological data fo…
We investigate the superconformal transformation properties of the supercurrent as well as of the superconformal anomalies themselves in d=4, N=1 supersymmetric quantum field theory. Matter supercurrent and anomalies are coupled to a classical background of minimal supergravity fields. On flat superspace, there exist two different types of the superconformal Ward identity (called S and B) which correspond to the flat space limits of old resp. new minimal background supergravity fields. In the present publication we give particular importance to the new minimal case. A general formalism is set …
We consider an expression for the supercurrent in the superconformal formulation of N=1 supergravity. A chiral compensator provides the supersymmetric formulation of the Callan-Coleman-Jackiw (CCJ) improved stress energy tensor, when the conformal gauge is used. Superconformal and non-superconformal matter give different conservation laws of the supercurrent, when coupled to the curvature supermultiplets which underlie the local superspace geometry. This approach can be applied to any set of auxiliary fields and it is useful to classify rigid curved superspace geometries. Examples with four su…
We study the Wess-Zumino model with the coupling extended to a chiral superfield. In order to incorporate the renormalization effects a further external real field has to be introduced. It is then possible to derive a Callan-Symanzik equation and to prove renormalizability. By constructing the supercurrent in this context the whole machinery for describing the superconformal symmetries becomes available. The presence of the external fields allows also to define multiple insertions of all relevant composite operators. Interesting relations to the curved superspace treatment show up.
We give an explicit superspace construction of higher spin conserved supercurrents built out of $4D,\mathcal{N}=1$ massless supermultiplets of arbitrary spin. These supercurrents are gauge invariant and generate a large class of cubic interactions between a massless supermultiplet with superspin $Y_1=s_1+1/2$ and two massless supermultiplets of arbitrary superspin $Y_2$. These interactions are possible only for $s_1\geq 2Y_2$. At the equality, the supercurrent acquires its simplest form and defines the supersymmetric, higher spin extension of the linearized Bel-Robinson tensor.
Recently there has appeared in the literature a sequence of papers questioning the consistency of supergravity coupled to Fayet-Iliopoulos terms. A key feature of these arguments is a demonstration that the conventional superspace stress tensor fails to be gauge invariant. We briefly show here how this can be understood as defining the stress tensor in a non-covariant Brans-Dicke frame in an underlying superconformal theory. When converted to the Einstein frame, the inconsistency vanishes, which is consistent with the emergence of a global symmetry discussed in these papers.
We describe several families of primary linear supermultiplets coupled to three-dimensional ${\cal N}=2$ conformal supergravity and use them to construct topological $BF$-type terms. We introduce conformal higher-spin gauge superfields and associate with them Chern-Simons-type actions that are constructed as an extension of the linearised action for ${\cal N}=2$ conformal supergravity. These actions possess gauge and super-Weyl invariance in any conformally flat superspace and involve a higher-spin generalisation of the linearised ${\cal N}=2$ super-Cotton tensor. For massless higher-spin supe…
Superconformal Ward identities for N=1 supersymmetric quantum field theories in four dimensions are convenienty obtained in the superfield formalism by combining diffeomorphisms and Weyl transformations on curved superspace. Using this approach we study the superconformal transformation properties of Green functions with one or more insertions of the supercurrent to all orders in perturbation theory. For the case of two insertions we pay particular attention to fixing the additional counterterms present, as well as to the purely geometrical anomalies which contribute to the transformation beha…
Lax pair and Hamiltonian formulations of the N=4 supersymmetric Toda chain (KdV) hierarchy in N=4 superspace are proposed. The general formulae for the infinite tower of its bosonic flows in terms of the Lax operator in N=4 superspace are derived. A new N=4 superfield basis in which the flows are local is constructed and its embedding in the N=4 O(4) superconformal supercurrent is established. A proof that the flows possess five complex conjugations and aninfinite-dimensional group of discrete symmetries in N=4 superspace is presented. A relation between the two descriptions of the hierarchy i…
We present expressions for the supercurrents generated by a generic $4D,~\mathcal{N}=1$ theory of complex linear superfield $Σ$. We verify that these expressions satisfy the appropriate superspace conservation equations. Furthermore, we discuss the component projection in order to derive expressions for the energy-momentum tensor, the supersymmetry current and the R-symmetry current when available. In addition, we discuss aspects of the coupling of the theory to supergravity. Specifically, we present a straightforward method to select the appropriate formulations of supergravity that one must …
We give a new expression for the supercurrent and its conservation in curved ${\cal N}=1$, $D=4$ superspace using the superconformal approach. The first component of the superfield, whose lowest component is the vector auxiliary field gives the (super)Einstein equations. Its trace and couplings to conformal and non-conformal matter is presented. In a suitable dilatational gauge, the conformal gauge, we obtain an update of the Callan-Coleman-Jackiw improved currents for conformal matter, containing $R$-symmetry corrections for a new traceless covariantly conserved energy--momentum tensor. We ob…
We consider the minimal off-shell formulation for four-dimensional N=2 supergravity with a cosmological term, in which the second compensator is an improved tensor multiplet. We use it to derive a linearized supergravity action (and its dual versions) around the anti-de Sitter (AdS) background in terms of three N=2 off-shell multiplets: an unconstrained scalar superfield, vector and tensor multiplets. This allows us to deduce the structure of the supercurrent multiplet associated with those supersymmetric theories which naturally couple to the supergravity formulation chosen, with or without a…
Generating supersymmetric AdS solutions in non-minimal supergravity in four dimensions is notoriously difficult. Indeed, it is a longstanding lore that such solutions exist only for old minimal supergravity. In this paper, we construct a dual formulation for general N=1 supergravity-matter systems that avoids the problem. In the case of pure supergravity without a cosmological constant, it coincides with the usual non-minimal (n=-1) supergravity, but in the presence of matter (or a cosmological constant) our formulation differs considerably. We also elaborate upon the framework of conformal su…
We develop a superspace Noether procedure for supersymmetric field theories in 4-dimensions for which an off-shell formulation in ordinary superspace exists. In this way we obtain an elegant and compact derivation of the various supercurrents in these theories. We then apply this formalism to compute the central charges for a variety of effective actions. As a by-product we also obtain a simple derivation of the anomalous superconformal Ward-identity in N=2 Yang-Mills theory. The connection with linearized supergravity is also discussed.
We develop a new off-shell formulation for six-dimensional conformal supergravity obtained by gauging the 6D ${\cal N} = (1, 0)$ superconformal algebra in superspace. This formulation is employed to construct two invariants for 6D ${\cal N} = (1, 0)$ conformal supergravity, which contain $C^3$ and $C\Box C$ terms at the component level. Using a conformal supercurrent analysis, we prove that these exhaust all such invariants in minimal conformal supergravity. Finally, we show how to construct the supersymmetric $F \Box F$ invariant in curved superspace.
The implications of N=1 superconformal symmetry for four dimensional quantum field theories are studied. Superconformal covariant expressions for two and three point functions of quasi-primary superfields of arbitrary spin are found and connected with the operator product expansion. The general formulae are specialised to cases involving a scalar superfield L, which contains global symmetry currents, and the supercurrent, which contains the energy momentum tensor, and the consequences of superconformal Ward identities analysed. The three point function of L is shown to have unique completely a…
When a globally supersymmetric theory is scale invariant, it must possess a Virial supercurrent supermultiplet. The multiplet structure is analogous to the R-current supermultiplet in globally R-symmetric theories but we put extra "$i$"s in various formulae. We construct a novel type of supergravity from gauging the Virial supercurrent supermultiplet in $d=1+3$ dimensions. We give the full non-linear superspace action with the help of a covariantly linear unitary superconformal compensator. The resulting supergravity is peculiar: (1) no Einstein-like second order kinetic term is allowed withou…
Within the framework of (2,0) anti-de Sitter (AdS) supersymmetry in three dimensions, we propose a multiplet of higher-spin currents. Making use of this supercurrent, we construct two off-shell gauge formulations for a massless multiplet of half-integer superspin $(s+\frac 12)$, for every integer $s>0$. In the $s=1$ case, one formulation describes the linearised action for (2,0) anti-de Sitter supergravity, while the other gives the type III minimal supergravity action in (2,0) AdS superspace, with both linearised supergravity actions originally derived in arXiv:1109.0496. The constructed mass…
We demonstrate that in addition to the usual fourth-rank superfield $(W_{a b c d})$ which describes the on-shell theory, a spinor superfield $(J_\a )$ can be introduced into the 11D geometrical tensors with engineering dimensions less or equal to one in such a way to satisfy the Bianchi identities in superspace. The components arising from $J_\a$ are identified as some of the auxiliary fields required for a full off-shell formulation. Our result indicates that eleven dimensional supergravity does not have to be completely on-shell. The $\k\-$symmetry of the supermembrane action in the presence…
The concept of self-dual supersymmetric nonlinear electrodynamics is generalized to a curved superspace of N = 1 supergravity, for both the old minimal and the new minimal versions of N = 1 supergravity. We derive the self-duality equation, which has to be satisfied by the action functional of any U(1) duality invariant model of a massless vector multiplet, and construct a family of self-dual nonlinear models. This family includes a curved superspace extension of the N = 1 super Born-Infeld action. The supercurrent and supertrace in such models are proved to be duality invariant. The most inte…
