Bogomol'nyi Bounds and Killing Spinors in d=3 Supergravity

We discuss the connection between the construction of Bogomol'nyi bounds and equations in three dimensional gravitational theories and the existence of an underlying $N=2$ local supersymmetric structure. We show that, appart from matter self duality equations, a first order equation for the gravitational field (whose consistency condition gives the Einstein equation) can be written as a consequence of the local supersymmetry. Its solvability makes possible the evasion of the no-go scenario for the construction of Killing spinors in asymptotically conical spacetimes. In particular we show that the existence of non-trivial supercovariantly constant spinors is guaranteed whenever field configurations saturate the topological bound.Comment: 14 pages, latex, no figure

Wilson loops from supergravity and string theory

We present a theorem that determines the value of the Wilson loop associated with a Nambu-Goto action which generalizes the action of the $AdS_5\times S_5$ model. In particular we derive sufficient conditions for confining behavior. We then apply this theorem to various string models. We go beyond the classical string picture by incorporating quadratic quantum fluctuations. We show that the bosonic determinant of $D_p$ branes with 16 supersymmetries yields a Luscher term. We confirm that the free energy associated with a BPS configuration of a single quark is free from divergences. We show that unlike for a string in flat space time in the case of $AdS_5\times S_5$ the fermionic determinant does not cancel the bosonic one. For a setup that corresponds to a confining gauge theory the correction to the potential is attractive. We determine the form of the Wilson loop for actions that include non trivial $B_{\mu\nu}$ field. The issue of an exact determination of the value of the stringy Wilson loop is discussed. Talk presented in string 99 Potsdam.Comment: 12 pages Late

Quantum fluctuations of Wilson loops from string models

We discuss the impact of quadratic quantum fluctuations on the Wilson loop extracted from classical string theory. We show that a large class of models, which includes the near horizon limit of D_p branes with 16 supersymmetries, admits a L\"{u}scher type correction to the classical potential. We confirm that the quantum determinant associated with a BPS configuration of a single quark in the AdS_5 \times S^5 model is free from divergences. We find that for the Wilson loop in that model, unlike the situation in flat space-time, the fermionic determinant does not cancel the bosonic one. For string models that correspond to gauge theories in the confining phase, we show that the correction to the potential is of a L\"{u}scher type and is attractive.Comment: 1+33 pages, 3 figures, a minor correction, references adde

Supergravity and a Bogomol'nyi Bound in Three Dimensions

We discuss the $2+1$ dimensional Abelian Higgs model coupled to $N=2$ supergravity. We construct the supercharge algebra and, from it, we show that the mass of classical static solutions is bounded from below by the topological charge. As it happens in the global case, half of the supersymmetry is broken when the bound is attained and Bogomol'nyi equations, resulting from the unbroken supersymmetry, hold. These equations, which correspond to gravitating vortices, include a first order self-duality equation whose integrability condition reproduces the Einstein equation.Comment: 25 pages, latex, no figure

Supersymmetrizing Branes with Bulk in Five-Dimensional Supergravity

We supersymmetrize a class of moduli dependent potentials living on branes with the help of additional bulk terms in 5d N=2 supergravity. The space of Poincare invariant vacuum solutions includes the Randall-Sundrum solution and the $M$-theoretical solution. After adding gauge sectors to the branes we discuss breakdown of low energy supersymmetry in this setup and hierarchy of physical scales. In the limit of large warp factors we find decoupling between effects stemming from different branes in the compactified theory.Comment: 14 pages, Latex, clarifying comments and references added, typos correcte