Related papers: Maximal supergravity and the quest for finiteness
In these lectures I describe the remarkable ultraviolet behavior of N=8 supergravity, which through four loops is no worse than that of N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory (a finite theory). I also explain the computational tools that allow…
We report on some old and new results on the quantum aspects of four-dimensional maximal supergravity, and its hypothetical ultraviolet finiteness.
We construct the three-loop four-point amplitude of N=8 supergravity using the unitarity method. The amplitude is ultraviolet finite in four dimensions. Novel cancellations, not predicted by traditional superspace power-counting arguments,…
In this contribution we describe computational tools that permit the evaluation of multi-loop scattering amplitudes in N=8 supergravity, in terms of amplitudes in N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory. We also discuss the remarkable ultraviolet…
Conventional wisdom holds that no four-dimensional gravity field theory can be ultraviolet finite. This understanding is based mainly on power counting. Recent studies confirm that one-loop N = 8 supergravity amplitudes satisfy the…
In this lecture we summarize recent calculations pointing to the possible ultraviolet finiteness of N = 8 supergravity in four dimensions. We outline the modern unitarity method, which enables multiloop calculations in this theory and…
We show that the gluon of N=4 Yang--Mills theory lies on a Regge trajectory, which then implies that the graviton of N=8 supergravity also lies on a Regge trajectory. This is consistent with the conjecture that N=8 supergravity is…
We examine the ultraviolet behaviour of supergravity theories as a function of dimension and number of supercharges. We do so by the computation of one and two-loop physical on-shell four point amplitudes. For maximal supergravity, our…
We describe the construction of the complete four-loop four-particle amplitude of N=8 supergravity. The amplitude is ultraviolet finite, not only in four dimensions, but in five dimensions as well. The observed extra cancellations provide…
This contribution gives a panoramic overview of the development of N=8 supergravity and its relation to other maximally supersymmetric theories over the past 40 years. It also provides a personal perspective on the future role of this…
We argue that $\mathcal N=8$ supergravity in four dimensions exhibits an exceptional $E_{8(8)}$ symmetry, enhanced from the known $E_{7(7)}$ invariance. Our procedure to demonstrate this involves dimensional reduction of the $\mathcal N=8$…
Superspace power-counting rules give estimates for the loop order at which divergences can first appear in non-renormalisable supersymmetric field theories. In some cases these estimates can be improved if harmonic superspace, rather than…
Using the method of maximal cuts, we obtain a form of the three-loop four-point scattering amplitude of N=8 supergravity in which all ultraviolet cancellations are made manifest. The Feynman loop integrals that appear have a graphical…
String theory implies that field theories containing gravity are in a certain sense `products' of gauge theories. We make this product structure explicit up to two loops for the relatively simple case of N=8 supergravity four-point…
We argue that recent results in string perturbation theory indicate that the four-graviton amplitude of four-dimensional N=8 supergravity might be ultraviolet finite up to eight loops. We similarly argue that the h-loop M-graviton amplitude…
We review recent progress in computations of amplitudes in gauge theory and gravity. We compare the perturbative expansion of amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills and N=8 supergravity and discuss surprising similarities.
The 4-loop 4-point amplitude in N=8 d=4 supergravity is UV finite due to supersymmetry. Even better UV behavior of the 4-loop 4-point amplitude, analogous to that of N=4 SYM theory, has been recently established by computation in [1]. All…
In four dimensions, it has long been established that gravity coupled to matter exhibits ultraviolet divergences at one loop, irrespective of supersymmetry. Notably, the four-matter one-loop amplitudes of half-maximal supergravity coupled…
Using the method of maximal cuts, we construct the complete D-dimensional integrand of the five-loop four-point amplitude of N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory, including nonplanar contributions. In the critical dimension where this amplitude…
Recent calculations have confirmed the belief that the ultraviolet behaviour of N-extended supergravities improves with increasing N. We give a comprehensive review.