We develop a procedure to reproduce the ten-dimensional generalized supergravity equations from T-duality covariant equations, that facilitates generalization to U-duality covariant formulations of eleven-dimensional supergravity. The latter leads to a modification of the eleven-dimensional supergravity equations with terms that contain a rank-2 tensor field $J^{mn}$ which is the eleven-dimensional analog of the non-unimodularity Killing vector $I^m$ in ten dimensions.
We analyze maximal supersymmetry in eleven-dimensional supergravity from the point of view of the oriented matroid theory. The mathematical key tools in our discussion are the Englert solution and the chirotope concept. We argue that chirotopes may provide other solutions not only for eleven-dimensional supergravity but for any higher dimensional supergravity theory.
We show that Supergravity in eleven dimensions can be described in terms of a constrained superfield on the light-cone, without the use of auxiliary fields. We build its action to first order in the gravitational coupling constant κ, by "oxidizing" (N=8,d=4) Supergravity. This is simply achieved, as for N=4 Yang-Mills, by extending the transverse derivatives into superspace. The eleven-dimensional SuperPoincare algebra is constructed and a fourth order interaction is conjectured.
In view of the newly conjectured Kac-Moody symmetries of supergravity theories placed in eleven and ten dimensions, the relation between these symmetry groups and possible compactifications are examined. In particular, we identify the relevant group cosets that parametrise the vacuum solutions of AdS x S type.
By applying Noether method to N=1 local supersymmetry in eleven dimensions, we obtained two candidates of R^4 corrections to the supergravity. The bosonic parts of these two completely match with the results obtained by type IIA string perturbative calculations. We also obtained 13 parameters which relate only fermionic terms.
We present aspects of the component description of linearized Nordstr\" om Supergravity in eleven and ten dimensions. The presentation includes low order component fields in the supermultiplet, the supersymmetry variations of the scalar graviton and gravitino trace, their supercovariantized field strengths, and the supersymmetry commutator algebra of these theories.
A new action for eleven dimensional supergravity on a manifold with boundary is presented. The action is a possible low energy limit of $M$-theory. Previous problems with infinite constants in the action are overcome and a new set of boundary conditions relating the behaviour of the supergravity fields to matter fields are obtained. One effect of these boundary conditions is that matter fields generate gravitational torsion.
We investigate the four-dimensional supergravity theory obtained from the compactification of eleven-dimensional supergravity on a smooth manifold of G_2 holonomy. We give a new derivation for the Kaehler potential associated with the scalar kinetic term of the N=1 four-dimensional theory. We then examine some solutions of the four-dimensional theory which arise from wrapped M-branes.
We calculate the spectrum of the linearized supergravity around the maximally supersymmetric pp-wave background in eleven dimensions. The resulting spectrum agrees with that of zero-mode Hamiltonian of a supermembrane theory on the pp-wave background. We also discuss the connection with the Kaluza-Klein zero modes of AdS_4 x S^7 background.
We study linearized perturbations of eleven-dimensional $OSp(32|1)$ Chern-Simons supergravity. The action contains a term that changes the value of the cosmological constant, as considered by Horava. It is shown that the spectrum contains a 3-form and a 6-form whose field strengths are dual to each other, thus providing a link with the eleven-dimensional supergravity of Cremmer, Julia and Scherk. The linearized equations for the graviton and Rarita-Schwinger field are shown to be the standard ones as well.
Motivated by the fact that there exists a continuous one-parameter family of gauged SO(8) supergravities, possible eleven-dimensional origins of this phenomenon are explored. Taking the original proof of the consistency of the truncation of 11D supergravity to SO(8) gauged supergravity as a starting point, a number of critical issues is discussed, such as the preferred electric-magnetic duality frame in four dimensions and the existence of dual magnetic gauge fields and related quantities in eleven dimensions. Some of those issues are resolved but others seem to point to obstructions in embedd…
We find all symmetric space solutions of eleven-dimensional supergravity completing an earlier classification by Figueroa-O'Farrill. They come in two types: AdS solutions and pp-wave solutions. We analyze the supersymmetry conditions and show that out of the 99 AdS geometries the only supersymmetric ones are the well known backgrounds arising as near-horizon limits of (intersecting) M-branes and preserving 32, 16 or 8 supersymmetries. The general form of the superisometry algebra for symmetric space backgrounds is also derived.
We construct a generalized BF theory in superspace that can embed eleven-dimensional supergravity theory. Our topological BF theory can accommodate all the necessary Bianchi identities for teleparallel superspace supergravity in eleven-dimensions, as the simplest but nontrivial solutions to superfield equations for our superspace action. This indicates that our theory may have solutions other than eleven-dimensional supergravity, accommodating generalized theories of eleven-dimensional supergravity. Therefore our topological theory can be a good candidate for the low energy limit of M-theory, …
The standard eleven-dimensional supergravity action depends on a three-form gauge field and does not allow direct coupling to five-branes. Using previously developed methods, we construct a covariant eleven-dimensional supergravity action depending on a three-form and six-form gauge field in a duality-symmetric manner. This action is coupled to both the M-theory two-brane and five-brane, and corresponding equations of motion are obtained. Consistent coupling relates D=11 duality properties with self-duality properties of the M-5-brane. From this duality-symmetric formulation, one can derive an…
In this paper, we present a systematic analysis of eleven-dimensional supergravity on a manifold with boundary, which is believed to be relevant to the strong coupling limit of the $E_8\times E_8$ heterotic string. Gauge and gravitational anomalies enter at a very early stage, and require a refinement of the standard Green-Schwarz mechanism for their cancellation. This uniquely determines the gauge group to be a copy of $E_8$ for each boundary component, fixes the gauge coupling constant in terms of the gravitational constant, and leads to several striking new tests of the hypothesis that ther…
We examine the Smarr formula in eleven-dimensional spacetime compactified on a general six-dimensional, Ricci-flat manifold. We show that non-zero mass for smooth and horizonless solutions can only be provided by cohomology. Furthermore, we confirm the result that there are no solitons without topology and prove the fact that Chern-Simons terms in the mass formula only appear in order to generate a purely topological integral.
As the full off-shell theories of supergravity in the important dimensions of eleven and ten dimensions are currently unknown, we introduce a superfield formalism as a foundation and experimental laboratory to explore the possibility that the scalar versions of the higher dimensional supergravitation theory can be constructed.
We find explicit expression for the one-loop four-graviton amplitude in eleven-dimensional supergravity compactified on a circle. Represented in terms of the string coupling (related to the compactification radius) it takes the form of an infinite sum of perturbative string loop corrections. We also compute the amplitude in the case of compactification on a 2-torus which is given by an SL(2,Z) invariant expansion in powers of the torus area. We discuss the structure of quantum corrections in eleven-dimensional theory and their relation to string theory.
The consistency of the embedding of four-dimensional SO(8) gauged N=8 supergravity into eleven-dimensional supergravity, where the internal directions are compactified on a seven-sphere, was established by de Wit and Nicolai in the 1980s. The reduction ansatz for the eleven-dimensional metric, and for some of the components of the 4-form field strength, were found at that time, and recently the complete expression for the 4-form reduction has been obtained. The expressions are quite complicated, and in many practical applications it would be sufficient to know the ansatz for a subset of the fo…
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 present an alternative formulation of duality-symmetric eleven-dimensional supergravity with both three-form and six-form gauge fields. Instead of the recently-proposed scalar auxiliary field, we use a simpler lagrangian with a non-propagating auxiliary multiplier tensor field with eight-indices. We also complete the superspace formulation in a duality-symmetric manner. An alternative super M-5-brane action coupled to this eleven-dimensional background is also presented. This formulation bypasses the usual obstruction for an invariant lagrangian for a self-dual three-form field strength, by…
We study the hidden symmetries of the fermionic sector of D=11 supergravity, and the role of K(E10) as a generalised `R-symmetry'. We find a consistent model of a massless spinning particle on an E10/K(E10) coset manifold whose dynamics can be mapped onto the fermionic and bosonic dynamics of D=11 supergravity in the near space-like singularity limit. This E10-invariant superparticle dynamics might provide the basis of a new definition of M-theory, and might describe the `de-emergence' of space-time near a cosmological singularity.
Light-cone gauge manifestly supersymmetric formulation of eleven dimensional supergravity is developed. The formulation is given entirely in terms of light cone scalar superfield, allowing us to treat all component fields on an equal footing. All higher derivative on mass shell manifestly supersymmetric 4-point functions invariant with respect to linear supersymmetry transformations and corresponding (in gravitational bosonic sector) to terms constructed from four Riemann tensors and derivatives are found. Superspace representation for 4-point scattering amplitudes is also obtained. Superfield…
We give a formulation of linearized 11D supergravity in 4D, $N=1$ superspace keeping all eleven bosonic coordinates. The fields are fluctuations around $\mathbf M=\mathbf R^{4|4}\times Y$, where $Y$ is a background Riemannian 7-manifold admitting a $G_2$ structure. We embed the 11D fields into superfield representations of the 4D, $N=1$ superconformal algebra. These consist of the conformal graviton superfield, seven conformal gravitino superfields, a tensor hierarchy of superfields describing the 11D 3-form, and a non-abelian Kaluza-Klein vector multiplet gauging the tensor hierarchy by diffe…
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 consider 3- and 6-vector deformations of 11-dimensional supergravity backgrounds of the form $M_5\times M_6$ admitting at least 3 Killing vectors. Using flux formulation of the E${}_{6(6)}$ exceptional field theory we derive (sufficient) conditions for the deformations to generate a solution. In the group manifold case these generalisations of the classical Yang-Baxter equation for the case of r-matrices with 3 and 6 indices are shown to reproduce those obtained from exceptional Drinfeld algebra for E${}_{6(6)}$. In general we see an additional constraint, which might be related to higher e…
In this work, we found the solution for the field equations of eleven-dimensional supergravity with a BPS conical topological defect configuration. We chose the solutions that corresponded to a M2-brane where the space-time presents the co-dimension two. The source of the topological defect is a sigma model where the brane tension is connected with the angular deficit. We analyzed the Killing spinor equations, a 3-form gauge potential and Einstein's equations, proving that it is possible to find a full solution for the system. We analyzed the near-horizon limit proving that it is possible to o…
In this doctoral thesis we study zero-mode spectra of Matrix theory and eleven-dimensional supergravity on the plane-wave background. This background is obtained via the Penrose limit of AdS_4 x S^7 and AdS_7 x S^4. The plane-wave background is a maximally supersymmetric spacetime supported by non-vanishing constant four-form flux in eleven-dimensional spacetime. First, we discuss the Matrix theory on the plane-wave background suggested by Berenstein, Maldacena and Nastase. We construct the Hamiltonian, 32 supercharges and their commutation relations. We discuss a spectrum of one specific supe…
In this paper we derive higher derivative corrections to the eleven dimensional supergravity by applying the Noether method with respect to the N=1 local supersymmetry. An ansatz for the higher derivative effective action, which includes quartic terms of the Riemann tensor, is parametrized by 132 parameters. Then we show that by the requirement of the local supersymmetry, the higher derivative effective action is essentially described by two parameters. The bosonic parts of these two superinvariants completely match with the known results obtained by the perturbative calculations in the type I…
Recently, the concept of a nonlinear sigma-model over a coset space G/H was generalized to the case where the group G is an infinite-dimensional Kac-Moody group, and H its (formal) `maximal compact subgroup'. Here, we study in detail the one-dimensional (geodesic) sigma-model with G = E10 and H=KE10. We re-examine the construction of this sigma-model and its relation to the bosonic sector of eleven-dimensional supergravity, up to height 30, by using a new formulation of the equations of motion. Specifically, we make systematic use of KE10-orthonormal local frames, in the sense that we decompos…
We study the Scherk-Schwarz reduction of D=11 supergravity with background fluxes in the context of a recently developed framework pertaining to D=11 supergravity. We derive the embedding tensor of the associated four-dimensional maximal gauged theories directly from eleven dimensions by exploiting the generalised vielbein postulates, and by analysing the couplings of the full set of 56 electric and magnetic gauge fields to the generalised vielbeine. The treatment presented here will apply more generally to other reductions of $D=11$ supergravity to maximal gauged theories in four dimensions.
This paper presents a series of constructions providing eleven-dimensional bosonic supergravity backgrounds. In particular, we treat Lorentzian manifolds given in terms of twisted products of six-dimensional Lorentzian manifolds and five-dimensional Riemannian manifolds. By considering a representative flux 4-form adapted to this setting, we analyse the system of bosonic supergravity equations and describe the corresponding geometric constraints. The new supergravity backgrounds appear for special cases associated to the adapted flux 4-form. For example, we provide a relation of eleven-dimensi…
Locally supersymmetric systems in odd dimensions whose Lagrangians are Chern-Simons forms for supersymmetric extensions of anti-de Sitter gravity are discussed. The construction is illustrated for D=7 and 11. In seven dimensions the theory is an N=2 supergravity whose fields are the vielbein ($e_μ^{a}$), the spin connection ($ω_μ^{ab}$), two gravitini ($ψ_μ^{i}$) and an $sp(2)$ gauge connection ($a_{μj}^{i}$). These fields form a connection for $osp(2|8)$. In eleven dimensions the theory is an N=1 supergravity containing, apart from $e_μ^{a}$ and $ω_μ^{ab}$, one gravitino $ψ_μ$, and a totally …
We present two different families of eleven-dimensional manifolds that admit non-restricted extensions of the isometry algebras to geometric superalgebras. Both families admit points for which the superalgebra extends to a super Lie algebra; on the one hand, a family of $N=1$, $ν={}^3\!/\!_4$ supergravity backgrounds and, on the other hand, a family of $N=1$, $ν=1$ supergravity background. Furthermore, both families admit a point that can be identified with an $N=4$, $ν={}^1\!/\!_2$ six-dimensional supergravity background.
We develop computational tools for calculating supersymmetric higher-order derivative corrections to eleven-dimensional supergravity using the action principle approach. We show that, provided the superspace Bianchi identities admit a perturbative solution in the derivative expansion, there are at least two independent superinvariants at the eight-derivative order of eleven-dimensional supergravity. Assuming the twelve-superforms associated to certain anomalous Chern-Simons terms are Weil-trivial, there will be a third independent superinvariant at this order. Under certain conditions, at leas…
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…
We summarise the results of our recent paper (arXiv:1511.08737) highlighting what might be considered to be a Lie-algebraic derivation of eleven-dimensional supergravity.
We construct the 11-dimensional lift of the known N=2 supersymmetric RG flow solution in 4-dimensional N=8 gauged supergravity. The squashed and stretched 7-dimensional internal metric preserving SU(2) x U(1) x U(1)_R symmetry contains an Einstein-Kahler 2-fold which is a base manifold of 5-dimensional Sasaki-Einstein Y^{p, q} space found in 2004. The nontrivial r(transverse to the domain wall)-dependence of the AdS_4 supergravity fields makes the Einstein-Maxwell equations consistent not only at the critical points but also along the supersymmetric whole RG flow connecting two critical points…
We define a twistor-like transform of the equations of eleven-dimensional supergravity. More precisely these equations are encoded by the CR-structure on the twistor space P^{2*15+11|8*2+16}. In addition equations of the linearized eleven-dimensional supergravity adapted to the 3-form potential can be transformed into the tangential Cauchy-Riemann equation d omega=0 on P.
The partition function on the three-sphere of ABJM theory and its generalizations has, at large N, a universal, subleading logarithmic term. Inspired by the success of one-loop quantum gravity for computing the logarithmic corrections to black hole entropy, we try to reproduce this universal term by a one-loop calculation in Euclidean eleven-dimensional supergravity on AdS_4 \times X_7. We find perfect agreement between the results of ABJM theory and the eleven dimensional supergravity.
It is shown that N=4 gauged supergravity in four dimensions is obtained by compactifying N=1 supergravity in ten dimensions on the group manifold $S^3\times S^3$. This could be further related to supergravity in eleven dimensions. Analysis of supersymmetry conditions of N=4 gauged supergravity in four dimensions reveals solutions which preserve 1/4 of the supersymmetries and are characterized by a BPS-monopole-type gauge field. These solutions are lifted to solutions of the ten and eleven dimensional theories.
We describe a new first-order formulation of D=11 supergravity which shows that that theory can be understood to arise from a certain topological field theory by the imposition of a set of local constraints on the fields, plus a lagrange multiplier term. The topological field theory is of interest as the algebra of its constraints realizes the D=11 supersymmetry algebra with central charges.
We extend the refined G-structure classification of supersymmetric solutions of eleven dimensional supergravity. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of an arbitrary number of Killing spinors whose common isotropy group contains a compact factor acting irreducibly in eight spatial dimensions and which embeds in $(Spin(7)\ltimes\mathbb{R}^8)\times\mathbb{R}$. We use these conditions to explicitly derive the general local bosonic solution of the Killing spinor equation admitting an N=4 SU(4) structure embedding in a $(Spin(7)\ltimes\mathbb{R}^8)\times\mathbb{R}$ struct…
The classical probe dynamics of the eleven-dimensional massless superparticles in the background geometry produced by N source M-momenta is investigated in the framework of N-sector DLCQ supergravity. We expand the probe action up to the two fermion terms and find that the fermionic contributions are the spin-orbit couplings, which precisely agree with the matrix theory calculations. We comment on the lack of non-perturbative corrections in the one-loop matrix quantum mechanics effective action and its compatibility with the supergravity analysis.
We investigate a family of SU(3)$\times$U(1)$\times$U(1)-invariant holographic flows and Janus solutions obtained from gauged $\mathcal{N}=8$ supergravity in four dimensions. We give complete details of how to use the uplift formulae to obtain the corresponding solutions in M theory. While the flow solutions appear to be singular from the four-dimensional perspective, we find that the eleven-dimensional solutions are much better behaved and give rise to interesting new classes of compactification geometries that are smooth, up to orbifolds, in the infra-red limit. Our solutions involve new pha…
In this paper we study eleven-dimensional supergravity in its most general form. This is done by implementing manifest supersymmetry (and Lorentz invariance) through the use of the geometric (torsion and curvature) superspace Bianchi identities. These identities are solved to linear order in a deformation parameter introduced via the dimension zero supertorsion given in its most general form. The theory so obtained is referred to as the deformed theory (to avoid the previously used term "off-shell"). An important by-product of this result is that any higher derivative correction to ordinary su…
We derive the component structure of 11D, $N=1/8$ supergravity linearized around eleven-dimensional Minkowski space. This theory represents 4 local supersymmetries closing onto 4 of the 11 spacetime translations without the use of equations of motion. It may be interpreted as adding $201$ auxiliary bosons and $56$ auxiliary fermions to the physical supergravity multiplet for a total of $376+376$ components. These components and their transformations are organized into representations of $SL(2;\mathbf C)\times G_2$.
We show that the commonly considered half BPS solutions of eleven dimensional supergravity and the ten dimensional type II theories, when expressed in terms of $E_{11}$ group elements, take the universal form $\exp(-{1\over 2}ln N β\cdot H)\exp((1-N)E_β)$. Using this formula we find new potential solutions to the $E_{11}$ non-linearly realisations corresponding to active fields which are beyond those in the supergravity approximations. These include the space filling nine brane of the IIB theory. We use $E_{11}$ to give a correspondence between the fields of the eleven dimensional and the IIA …
This thesis deals with the construction of an eleven-dimensional gauge theory, off-shell invariant, for the M Algebra. The theory is built using a Transgression Form as a Lagrangian. In order to accomplish this, one must first analyze the general construction of Transgression Gauge Field Theories, for an arbitrary symmetry group (Chapter 3). Some interesting results regarding this point are (1) the calculation of Noether Charges which are off-shell conserved, (2) the association of the double connection structure of the Transgression Form with both orientations of the basis manifold and (3) th…
We compute certain spinorial cohomology groups controlling possible supersymmetric deformations of eleven-dimensional supergravity up to order $l^3$ in the Planck length. At ${\cal O}(l)$ and ${\cal O}(l^2)$ the spinorial cohomology groups are trivial and therefore the theory cannot be deformed supersymmetrically. At ${\cal O}(l^3)$ the corresponding spinorial cohomology group is generated by a nontrivial element. On an eleven-dimensional manifold $M$ such that $p_1(M)\neq 0$, this element corresponds to a supersymmetric deformation of the theory, which can only be redefined away at the cost o…
Brane gas cosmology provides a dynamical decompactification mechanism that could account for the number of spacetime dimensions we observe today. In this work we discuss this scenario taking into account the full bosonic sector of eleven-dimensional supergravity. We find new cosmological solutions that can dynamically explain the existence of three large spatial dimensions characterised by an universal asymptotic scaling behaviour and a large number of initially unwrapped dimensions. This type of solutions enlarge the possible initial conditions of the Universe in the Hagedorn phase and conseq…
By following Seiberg's prescriptions on DLCQ of $M$ theory, we give the background geometries of DLCQ supergravity associated with $N$ sector of DLCQ of $M$ theory on $T^p$ with vanishingly small radii. Most of these are the product of anti-de Sitter spacetimes and spheres, which have been found as the spontaneous compactifications of eleven dimensional supergravity long time ago and also are revisited recently by Maldacena by considering the near horizon geometry of various D-branes in appropriate limit. Those geometries are maximally symmetric and have full 32 supersymmetries of eleven dimen…
A class of 4-dimensional supersymmetric dyonic black hole solutions that arise in an effective 11-dimensional supergravity compactified on a 7-torus is presented. We give the explicit form of dyonic solutions with diagonal internal metric, associated with the Kaluza-Klein sector as well as the three-form field, and relate them to a class of solutions with a general internal metric by imposing a subset of $SO(7)\subset E_7$ transformations. We also give the field transformations which relate the above configurations to 4-dimensional ground state configurations of Ramond-Ramond and Neveu-Schwarz…
We study the system of equations derived twenty five years ago by B. de Wit and the first author [Nucl. Phys. B281 (1987) 211] as conditions for the consistent truncation of eleven-dimensional supergravity on AdS_4 x S^7 to gauged N = 8 supergravity in four dimensions. By exploiting the E_7(7) symmetry, we determine the most general solution to this system at each point on the coset space E_7(7)/SU(8). We show that invariants of the general solution are given by the fluxes in eleven-dimensional supergravity. This allows us to both clarify the explicit non-linear ansatze for the fluxes given pr…
The complete supersymmetric action for eleven-dimensional supergravity is presented. The action is polynomial in the scalar fermionic pure spinor superfield, and contains only a minor modification to the recently proposed three-point coupling.
We consider the most general form for eleven dimensional supersymmetry compatible with on-shell superfields. This allows for the introduction of a conformal Spin(1,10) connection. In eleven dimensional Minkowski space this modification is trivial and can be removed by a field redefinition, however, upon compactification on S^1 it is possible to introduce a non-trivial `Wilson line'. The resulting ten dimensional supergravity has massive 1-form and 3-form potentials and a cosmological constant. This theory does not possess a supersymmetric eightbrane soliton but it does admit a supersymmetric n…
