3,418 research outputs found
IIA/IIB Supergravity and Ten-forms
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
Classification of IIB backgrounds with 28 supersymmetries
We show that all IIB backgrounds with strictly 28 supersymmetries are locally
isometric to the plane wave solution of arXiv:hep-th/0206195. Moreover, we
demonstrate that all solutions with more than 26 supersymmetries and only
5-form flux are maximally supersymmetric. The N=28 plane wave solution is a
superposition of the maximally supersymmetric IIB plane wave with a heterotic
string solution. We investigate the propagation of strings in this background,
find the spectrum and give the string light-cone Hamiltonian.Comment: 30 pages, typos correcte
BPS partition functions in N = 4 Yang-Mills theory on T^4
We consider N = 4 Yang-Mills theory on a flat four-torus with the R-symmetry
current coupled to a flat background connection. The partition function depends
on the coupling constant of the theory, but when it is expanded in a power
series in the R-symmetry connection around the loci at which one of the
supersymmetries is unbroken, the constant and linear terms are in fact
independent of the coupling constant and can be computed at weak coupling for
all non-trivial 't Hooft fluxes. The case of a trivial 't Hooft flux is
difficult because of infrared problems, but the corresponding terms in the
partition function are uniquely determined by S-duality.Comment: 23 pages, v2 Minor correction
Janus Configurations, Chern-Simons Couplings, And The Theta-Angle in N=4 Super Yang-Mills Theory
We generalize the half-BPS Janus configuration of four-dimensional N=4 super
Yang-Mills theory to allow the theta-angle, as well as the gauge coupling, to
vary with position. We show that the existence of this generalization is
closely related to the existence of novel three-dimensional Chern-Simons
theories with N=4 supersymmetry. Another closely related problem, which we also
elucidate, is the D3-NS5 system in the presence of a four-dimensional
theta-angle.Comment: 66 p
Exact Results for Wilson Loops in Superconformal Chern-Simons Theories with Matter
We use localization techniques to compute the expectation values of
supersymmetric Wilson loops in Chern-Simons theories with matter. We find the
path-integral reduces to a non-Gaussian matrix model. The Wilson loops we
consider preserve a single complex supersymmetry, and exist in any N=2 theory,
though the localization requires superconformal symmetry. We present explicit
results for the cases of pure Chern-Simons theory with gauge group U(N),
showing agreement with the known results, and ABJM, showing agreement with
perturbative calculations. Our method applies to other theories, such as
Gaiotto-Witten theories, BLG, and their variants.Comment: 32 page
Higher derivative type II string effective actions, automorphic forms and E11
By dimensionally reducing the ten-dimensional higher derivative type IIA
string theory effective action we place constraints on the automorphic forms
that appear in the effective action in lower dimensions. We propose a number of
properties of such automorphic forms and consider the prospects that E11 can
play a role in the formulation of the higher derivative string theory effective
action.Comment: 34 page
Generalised geometry, eleven dimensions and E11
We construct the non-linear realisation of E11 and its first fundamental
representation in eleven dimensions at low levels. The fields depend on the
usual coordinates of space-time as well as two form and five form coordinates.
We derive the terms in the dynamics that contain the three form and six form
fields and show that when we restricted their field dependence to be only on
the usual space-time we recover the correct self-duality relation. Should this
result generalise to the gravity fields then the non-linear realisation is an
extension of the maximal supergravity theory, as previously conjectured. We
also comment on the connections between the different approaches to generalised
geometry.Comment: 17 pages, Trivial typos corrected in version one and a substantial
note added which gives the equation of motion relating the gravity field to
its dua
Classification of N=6 superconformal theories of ABJM type
Studying the supersymmetry enhancement mechanism of Aharony, Bergman,
Jafferis and Maldacena, we find a simple condition on the gauge group
generators for the matter fields. We analyze all possible compact Lie groups
and their representations. The only allowed gauge groups leading to the
manifest N=6 supersymmetry are, up to discrete quotients, SU(n) x U(1), Sp(n) x
U(1), SU(n) x SU(n), and SU(n) x SU(m) x U(1) with possibly additional U(1)'s.
Matter representations are restricted to be the (bi)fundamentals. As a
byproduct we obtain another proof of the complete classification of the three
algebras considered by Bagger and Lambert.Comment: 18 page
Constraints on Automorphic Forms of Higher Derivative Terms from Compactification
By dimensionally reducing the higher derivative corrections of
ten-dimensional IIB theory on a torus we deduce constraints on the E_{n+1}
automorphic forms that occur in d=10-n dimensions. In particular we argue that
these automorphic forms involve the representation of E_{n+1} with fundamental
weight \lambda^{n+1}, which is also the representation to which the string
charges in d dimensions belong. We also consider a similar calculation for the
reduction of higher derivative terms in eleven-dimensional M-theory.Comment: Minor corrections, to appear in JHE
Infrared stability of ABJ-like theories
We consider marginal deformations of the superconformal ABJM/ABJ models which
preserve N=2 supersymmetry. We determine perturbatively the spectrum of fixed
points and study their infrared stability. We find a closed line of fixed
points which is IR stable. The fixed point corresponding to the ABJM/ABJ models
is stable under marginal deformations which respect the original SU(2)xSU(2)
invariance, while deformations which break this group destabilize the theory
which then flows to a less symmetric fixed point. We discuss the addition of
flavor degrees of freedom. We prove that in general a flavor marginal
superpotential does not destabilize the system in the IR. An exception is
represented by a marginal coupling which mixes matter charged under different
gauge sectors. Finally, we consider the case of relevant deformations which
should drive the system to a strongly coupled IR fixed point recently
investigated in arXiv:0909.2036 [hep-th].Comment: 1+11 pages, 4 figures; v2: minor correction
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