Related papers: Structure of supergravity theories
We report on recent developments regarding the supersymmetric Free Differential Algebra describing the vacuum structure of $D=11$ supergravity. We focus on the emergence of a hidden superalgebra underlying the theory, explaining the…
We provide a unified description of the three covariant superspace approaches to ${\cal N}=2$ conformal supergravity in four dimensions: (i) conformal superspace; (ii) $\mathsf{U}(2)$ superspace; and (iii) $\mathsf{SU}(2)$ superspace. Each…
We explain in some detail the geometric structure of spheres in any dimension. Our approach may be helpful for other homogeneous spaces (with other signatures) such as the de Sitter and anti-de Sitter spaces. We apply the procedure to the…
Starting from the four normed division algebras - the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions - a systematic procedure gives a 3-cocycle on the Poincare Lie superalgebra in dimensions 3, 4, 6 and 10. A related procedure…
Relying on the geometrical set up of Special K\"ahler Geometry and Quaternionic Geometry, which I discussed at length in my Lectures at the 1995 edition of this Spring School, I present here the recently obtained fully general form of N=2…
In this talk I will survey some of the basic facts about superstring theories in 10 dimensions and the dualities that relate them to M theory in 11 dimensions. Then I will mention some important unresolved issues.
We prove the strong homogeneity conjecture for eleven- and ten-dimensional (Poincar\'e) supergravity backgrounds. In other words, we show that any backgrounds of 11-dimensional, type I/heterotic or type II supergravity theories preserving a…
We begin to study the structure of Leibniz algebras having maximal cyclic subalgebras
The formalism to determine (conformal) isometries of a given curved superspace was elaborated almost two decades ago in the context of the old minimal formulation for N=1 supergravity in four dimensions (4D). This formalism is universal,…
A discursive, non-technical, analysis is made of some of the basic issues that arise in almost any approach to quantum gravity, and of how these issues stand in relation to recent developments in the field. Specific topics include the…
A fairly elementary introduction to supersymmetric field theories in general and the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) in particular is given. Topics covered include the cancellation of quadratic divergencies, the construction of…
Based on a fundamental symmetry between space, time, mass and charge, a series of group structures of physical interest is generated, ranging from C2 to E8. The most significant result of this analysis is a version of the Dirac equation…
Theories with elementary scalar degrees of freedom seem nowadays required for simple descriptions of the Standard Model and of the Early Universe. It is then natural to embed theories of inflation in supergravity, also in view of their…
We discuss in a critical way the physical foundations of geometric structure of relativistic theories of gravity by the so-called Ehlers-Pirani-Schild formalism. This approach provides a natural interpretation of the observables showing how…
Superspace is considered as space of parameters of the supercoherent states defining the basis for oscillator-like unitary irreducible representations of the generalized superconformal group SU(2m,2n/2N) in the field of quaternions H. The…
We develop structure theory of finite Lie conformal superalgebras.
We construct a generalized BF theory in superspace that can embed eleven-dimensional supergravity theory. Our topological BF theory can accommodate all the necessary Bianchi identities for teleparallel superspace supergravity in…
Deformations of maximal supergravity theories induced by gauging non-abelian subgroups of the duality group reveal the presence of charged M-theory degrees of freedom that are not necessarily contained in supergravity. The relation with…
We analyze maximal supersymmetry in eleven-dimensional supergravity from the point of view of the oriented matroid theory. The mathematical key tools in our discussion are the Englert solution and the chirotope concept. We argue that…
The gauge theories underlying gauged supergravity and exceptional field theory are based on tensor hierarchies: generalizations of Yang-Mills theory utilizing algebraic structures that generalize Lie algebras and, as a consequence, require…