English

Gauge supergravity in $D=2+2$

High Energy Physics - Theory 2017-11-22 v1

Abstract

We present an action for chiral N=(1,0)N=(1,0) supergravity in 2+22+2 dimensions. The fields of the theory are organized into an OSp(14)OSp(1|4) connection supermatrix, and are given by the usual vierbein VaV^a, spin connection ωab\omega^{ab}, and Majorana gravitino ψ\psi. In analogy with a construction used for D=10+2D=10+2 gauge supergravity, the action is given by STr(R2Γ)\int STr ({\bf R}^2 {\bf \Gamma}), where R{\bf R} is the OSp(14)OSp(1|4) curvature supermatrix two-form, and Γ{\bf \Gamma} a constant supermatrix containing γ5\gamma_5. It is similar, but not identical to the MacDowell-Mansouri action for D=2+2D=2+2 supergravity. The constant supermatrix breaks OSp(14)OSp(1|4) gauge invariance to a subalgebra OSp(12)Sp(2)OSp(1|2) \oplus Sp(2), including a Majorana-Weyl supercharge. Thus half of the OSp(14)OSp(1|4) gauge supersymmetry survives. The gauge fields are the selfdual part of ωab\omega^{ab} and the Weyl projection of ψ\psi for OSp(12)OSp(1|2), and the antiselfdual part of ωab\omega^{ab} for Sp(2)Sp(2). Supersymmetry transformations, being part of a gauge superalgebra, close off-shell. The selfduality condition on the spin connection can be consistently imposed, and the resulting "projected" action is OSp(12)OSp(1|2) gauge invariant.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1707.03411,
  title  = {Gauge supergravity in $D=2+2$},
  author = {Leonardo Castellani},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1707.03411},
  year   = {2017}
}

Comments

LaTeX, 10 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-22T20:43:54.573Z