701 research outputs found

    IIA/IIB Supergravity and Ten-forms

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    We perform a careful investigation of which p-form fields can be introduced consistently with the supersymmetry algebra of IIA and/or IIB ten-dimensional supergravity. In particular the ten-forms, also known as "top-forms", require a careful analysis since in this case, as we will show, closure of the supersymmetry algebra at the linear level does not imply closure at the non-linear level. Consequently, some of the (IIA and IIB) ten-form potentials introduced in earlier work of some of us are discarded. At the same time we show that new ten-form potentials, consistent with the full non-linear supersymmetry algebra can be introduced. We give a superspace explanation of our work. All of our results are precisely in line with the predictions of the E(11) algebra.Comment: 17 page

    Supersymmetric geometries of IIA supergravity I

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    IIA supergravity backgrounds preserving one supersymmetry locally admit four types of Killing spinors distinguished by the orbits of Spin(9,1)Spin(9,1) on the space of spinors. We solve the Killing spinor equations of IIA supergravity with and without cosmological constant for Killing spinors representing two of these orbits, with isotropy groups Spin(7)Spin(7) and Spin(7)R8Spin(7)\ltimes\mathbb{R}^8. In both cases, we identify the geometry of spacetime and express the fluxes in terms of the geometry. We find that the geometric constraints of backgrounds with a Spin(7)R8Spin(7)\ltimes\mathbb{R}^8 invariant Killing spinor are identical to those found for heterotic backgrounds preserving one supersymmetry.Comment: 21 page

    Maximal supergravity in D=10: forms, Borcherds algebras and superspace cohomology

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    We give a very simple derivation of the forms of N=2,D=10N=2,D=10 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 (dF=0dF=0) 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
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