Half-maximal supergravity in three dimensions: supergeometry, differential forms and algebraic structure

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Abstract

The half-maximal supergravity theories in three dimensions, which have local SO(8) x SO(n) and rigid SO(8, n) symmetries, are discussed in a superspace setting starting from the superconformal theory. The on-shell theory is obtained by imposing further constraints; it is essentially a non-linear sigma model that induces a Poincare supergeometry. The deformations of the geometry due to gauging are briefly discussed. The possible p-form field strengths are studied using supersymmetry and SO(8, n) symmetry. The set of such forms obeying consistent Bianchi identities constitutes a Lie super co-algebra while the demand that these identities admit solutions places a further constraint on the possible representations of SO(8, n) that the forms transform under which can be easily understood using superspace cohomology. The dual Lie superalgebra can then be identified as the positive sector of a Borcherds superalgebra that extends the Lie algebra of the duality group. In addition to the known p = 2, 3, 4 forms, which we construct explicitly, there are five-forms that can be non-zero in supergravity, while all forms with p > 5 vanish. It is shown that some six-forms can have non-trivial contributions at order alpha'.

Original languageEnglish
Article number177
Pages (from-to)-
Number of pages30
JournalJournal of High Energy Physics
Volume2012
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Jun 2012

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