The BLG Theory in Light-Cone Superspace

The light-cone superspace version of the d=3, N=8 superconformal theory of Bagger, Lambert and Gustavsson (BLG) is obtained as a solution to constraints imposed by OSp(2,2|8) superalgebra. The Hamiltonian of the theory is shown to be a quadratic form of the dynamical supersymmetry transformation.Comment: 45 pages, v2: reference added, minor typos corrected, published versio

Towards a tensionless string field theory for the N=(2,0) CFT in d=6

We describe progress in using the field theory of tensionless strings to arrive at a Lagrangian for the six-dimensional $\mathcal N=(2,0)$ conformal theory. We construct the free part of the theory and propose an ansatz for the cubic vertex in light-cone superspace. By requiring closure of the $(2,0)$ supersymmetry algebra, we fix the cubic vertex up to two parameters.Comment: 46 pages, 2 figures. V2: references added; minor changes and improvement

From lightcone actions to maximally supersymmetric amplitudes

In this article actions for N=4 SYM and N=8 supergravity are formulated in terms of a chiral superfield, which contains only the physical degrees of freedom of either theory. In these new actions, which originate from the lightcone superspace, the supergravity cubic vertex is the square of the gauge theory one (omitting the color structures). Amplitude calculations using the corresponding Feynman supergraph rules are tedious, but can be simplified by choosing a preferred superframe. Recursive calculations of all MHV amplitudes in N=4 SYM and the four-point N=8 supergravity amplitude are shown to agree with the known results and connections to the BCFW recursion relations are pointed out. Finally, the new path integrals are discussed in the context of the double-copy property relating N=4 SYM theory to N=8 supergravity.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figures, v2: title modified, published versio

Pure spinor superfields -- an overview

Maximally supersymmetric theories do not allow off-shell superspace formulations with traditional superfields containing a finite set of auxiliary fields. It has become clear that off-shell supersymmetric action formulations of such models can be achieved by the introduction of pure spinors. In this talk, an overview of this formalism is given, with emphasis on D=10 super-Yang-Mills theory and D=11 supergravity. This a somewhat expanded version of a talk presented at the workshop "Breaking of supersymmetry and ultraviolet divergences in extended supergravity" (BUDS), Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, March 25-28, 2013.Comment: 34 pp., 2 figs., contributions to the proceedings of the workshop "Breaking of supersymmetry and ultraviolet divergences in extended supergravity" (BUDS), Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, March 25-28, 201

Conformal higher spin scattering amplitudes from twistor space

We use the formulation of conformal higher spin (CHS) theories in twistor space to study their tree-level scattering amplitudes, finding expressions for all three-point anti-MHV amplitudes and all MHV amplitudes involving positive helicity conformal gravity particles and two negative helicity higher spins. This provides the on-shell analogue for the covariant coupling of CHS fields to a conformal gravity background. We discuss the restriction of the theory to a ghost-free unitary subsector, analogous to restricting conformal gravity to general relativity with a cosmological constant. We study the flat-space limit and show that the restricted amplitudes vanish, supporting the conjecture that in the unitary sector the S-matrix of CHS theories is trivial. However, by appropriately rescaling the amplitudes we find non-vanishing results which we compare with chiral flat-space higher spin theories.Comment: 31 pages, no figures. v2: comments added, published versio