249 research outputs found
Half-maximal supergravity in three dimensions: supergeometry, differential forms and algebraic structure
The half-maximal supergravity theories in three dimensions, which have local
SO(8)\xz SO(n) and rigid SO(8,n) symmetries, are discussed in a superspace
setting starting from the superconformal theory. The on-shell theory is
obtained by imposing further constraints; it is essentially a non-linear sigma
model that induces a Poincar\'e supergeometry. The deformations of the geometry
due to gauging are briefly discussed. The possible -form field strengths are
studied using supersymmetry and SO(8,n) symmetry. The set of such forms obeying
consistent Bianchi identities constitutes a Lie super co-algebra while the
demand that these identities admit solutions places a further constraint on the
possible representations of SO(8,n) that the forms transform under which can be
easily understood using superspace cohomology. The dual Lie superalgebra can
then be identified as the positive sector of a Borcherds superalgebra that
extends the Lie algebra of the duality group. In addition to the known
forms, which we construct explicitly, there are five-forms that can
be non-zero in supergravity, while all forms with vanish. It is shown
that some six-forms can have non-trivial contributions at order \a'.Comment: 30 pages. References added. Some clarification of the tex
Maximal supergravity in D=10: forms, Borcherds algebras and superspace cohomology
We give a very simple derivation of the forms of supergravity from
supersymmetry and SL(2,\bbR) (for IIB). Using superspace cohomology we show
that, if the Bianchi identities for the physical fields are satisfied, the
(consistent) Bianchi identities for all of the higher-rank forms must be
identically satisfied, and that there are no possible gauge-trivial Bianchi
identities () except for exact eleven-forms. We also show that the
degrees of the forms can be extended beyond the spacetime limit, and that the
representations they fall into agree with those predicted from Borcherds
algebras. In IIA there are even-rank RR forms, including a non-zero
twelve-form, while in IIB there are non-trivial Bianchi identities for
thirteen-forms even though these forms are identically zero in supergravity. It
is speculated that these higher-rank forms could be non-zero when higher-order
string corrections are included.Comment: 15 pages. Published version. Some clarification of the tex
Three-dimensional (p,q) AdS superspaces and matter couplings
We introduce N-extended (p,q) AdS superspaces in three space-time dimensions,
with p+q=N and p>=q, and analyse their geometry. We show that all (p,q) AdS
superspaces with X^{IJKL}=0 are conformally flat. Nonlinear sigma-models with
(p,q) AdS supersymmetry exist for p+q4 the target space geometries
are highly restricted). Here we concentrate on studying off-shell N=3
supersymmetric sigma-models in AdS_3. For each of the cases (3,0) and (2,1), we
give three different realisations of the supersymmetric action. We show that
(3,0) AdS supersymmetry requires the sigma-model to be superconformal, and
hence the corresponding target space is a hyperkahler cone. In the case of
(2,1) AdS supersymmetry, the sigma-model target space must be a non-compact
hyperkahler manifold endowed with a Killing vector field which generates an
SO(2) group of rotations of the two-sphere of complex structures.Comment: 52 pages; V3: minor corrections, version published in JHE
Tensor hierarchies, Borcherds algebras and E11
Gauge deformations of maximal supergravity in D=11-n dimensions generically
give rise to a tensor hierarchy of p-form fields that transform in specific
representations of the global symmetry group E(n). We derive the formulas
defining the hierarchy from a Borcherds superalgebra corresponding to E(n).
This explains why the E(n) representations in the tensor hierarchies also
appear in the level decomposition of the Borcherds superalgebra. We show that
the indefinite Kac-Moody algebra E(11) can be used equivalently to determine
these representations, up to p=D, and for arbitrarily large p if E(11) is
replaced by E(r) with sufficiently large rank r.Comment: 22 pages. v2: Published version (except for a few minor typos
detected after the proofreading, which are now corrected
The general gaugings of maximal d=9 supergravity
We use the embedding tensor method to construct the most general maximal
gauged/massive supergravity in d=9 dimensions and to determine its extended
field content. Only the 8 independent deformation parameters (embedding tensor
components, mass parameters etc.) identified by Bergshoeff \textit{et al.} (an
SL(2,R) triplet, two doublets and a singlet can be consistently introduced in
the theory, but their simultaneous use is subject to a number of quadratic
constraints. These constraints have to be kept and enforced because they cannot
be used to solve some deformation parameters in terms of the rest. The
deformation parameters are associated to the possible 8-forms of the theory,
and the constraints are associated to the 9-forms, all of them transforming in
the conjugate representations. We also give the field strengths and the gauge
and supersymmetry transformations for the electric fields in the most general
case. We compare these results with the predictions of the E11 approach,
finding that the latter predicts one additional doublet of 9-forms, analogously
to what happens in N=2, d=4,5,6 theories.Comment: Latex file, 43 pages, reference adde
D=3, N=8 conformal supergravity and the Dragon window
We give a superspace description of D=3, N=8 supergravity. The formulation is
off-shell in the sense that the equations of motion are not implied by the
superspace constraints (but an action principle is not given). The multiplet
structure is unconventional, which we connect to the existence of a "Dragon
window", that is modules occurring in the supercurvature but not in the
supertorsion. According to Dragon's theorem this cannot happen above three
dimensions. We clarify the relevance of this window for going on the conformal
shell, and discuss some aspects of coupling to conformal matter.Comment: plain tex, 24 pp v2: minor change
Superconformal symmetry and maximal supergravity in various dimensions
In this paper we explore the relation between conformal superalgebras with 64
supercharges and maximal supergravity theories in three, four and six
dimensions using twistorial oscillator techniques. The massless fields of N=8
supergravity in four dimensions were shown to fit into a CPT-self-conjugate
doubleton supermultiplet of the conformal superalgebra SU(2,2|8) a long time
ago. We show that the fields of maximal supergravity in three dimensions can
similarly be fitted into the super singleton multiplet of the conformal
superalgebra OSp(16|4,R), which is related to the doubleton supermultiplet of
SU(2,2|8) by dimensional reduction. Moreover, we construct the ultra-short
supermultiplet of the six-dimensional conformal superalgebra OSp(8*|8) and show
that its component fields can be organized in an on-shell superfield. The
ultra-short OSp(8*|8) multiplet reduces to the doubleton supermultiplet of
SU(2,2|8) upon dimensional reduction. We discuss the possibility of a chiral
maximal (4,0) six-dimensional supergravity theory with USp(8) R-symmetry that
reduces to maximal supergravity in four dimensions and is different from
six-dimensional (2,2) maximal supergravity, whose fields cannot be fitted into
a unitary supermultiplet of a simple conformal superalgebra. Such an
interacting theory would be the gravitational analog of the (2,0) theory.Comment: 54 pages, PDFLaTeX, Section 5 and several references added. Version
accepted for publication in JHE
Familial Adhesive Arachnoiditis Associated with Syringomyelia
Adhesive arachnoiditis is a rare condition, often complicated by syringomyelia. This pathologic entity is usually associated with prior spinal surgery, spinal inflammation or infection, and hemorrhage. The usual symptoms of arachnoiditis are pain, paresthesia, and weakness of the low extremities due to the nerve entrapment. A few cases have had no obvious etiology. Previous studies have reported one family with multiple cases of adhesive arachnoiditis. We report a second family of Belgian origin with multiple cases of arachnoiditis and secondary syringomyelia in the affected individuals
ICP curve morphology and intracranial flow-volume changes: a simultaneous ICP and cine phase contrast MRI study in humans
Background: The intracranial pressure (ICP) curve with its different peaks has been extensively studied, but the exact physiological mechanisms behind its morphology are still not fully understood. Both intracranial volume change (ΔICV) and transmission of the arterial blood pressure have been proposed to shape the ICP curve. This study tested the hypothesis that the ICP curve correlates to intracranial volume changes. Methods: Cine phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed in neuro-intensive care patients with simultaneous ICP monitoring. The MRI was set to examine cerebral arterial inflow and venous cerebral outflow as well as flow of cerebrospinal fluid over the foramen magnum. The difference in total flow into and out from the cranial cavity (Flowtot) over time provides the ΔICV. The ICP curve was compared to the Flowtot and the ΔICV. Correlations were calculated through linear and logarithmic regression. Student’s t test was used to test the null hypothesis between paired samples. Results: Excluding the initial ICP wave, P1, the mean R2 for the correlation between the ΔICV and the ICP was 0.75 for the exponential expression, which had a higher correlation than the linear (p = 0.005). The first ICP peaks correlated to the initial peaks of Flowtot with a mean R2 = 0.88. Conclusion: The first part, or the P1, of the ICP curve seems to be created by the first rapid net inflow seen in Flowtot while the rest of the ICP curve seem to correlate to the ΔICV
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