arXiv subjects

Antoine Van Proeyen

Publications and source records attributed to Antoine Van Proeyen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Hypermultiplets, domain walls and supersymmetric attractors

We establish general properties of supersymmetric flow equations and of the superpotential of five-dimensional N = 2 gauged supergravity coupled to vector and hypermultiplets. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for BPS domain walls and find a set of algebraic attractor equations for N = 2 critical points. As an example we describe in detail the gauging of the universal hypermultiplet and a vector multiplet. We study a two-parameter family of superpotentials with supersymmetric AdS critical points and we find, in particular, an N = 2 embedding for the UV-IR solution of Freedman, Gubser, Pilch and Warner of the N = 8 theory. We comment on the relevance of these results for brane world constructions.

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arXiv2004

On the fakeness of fake supergravity

We revisit and complete the study of curved BPS-domain walls in matter-coupled 5D, N=2 supergravity and carefully analyse the relation to gravitational theories known as "fake supergravities". We first show that \emph{curved} BPS-domain walls require the presence of non-trivial hypermultiplet scalars, whereas walls that are solely supported by vector multiplet scalars are necessarily \emph{flat}, due to the constraints from very special geometry. We then recover fake supergravity as the effective description of true supergravity where one restricts the attention to the flowing scalar field of a given BPS-domain wall. In general, however, true supergravity can be simulated by fake supergravity at most \emph{locally}, based upon two choices: (i) a suitable adapted coordinate system on the scalar manifold, such that only one scalar field plays a dynamical role, and (ii) a gauge fixing of the SU(2) connection on the quaternionic-Kahler manifold, as this connection does not fit the simple formalism of fake supergravity. Employing these gauge and coordinate choices, the BPS-equations for both vector and hypermultiplet scalars become identical to the fake supergravity equations, once the line of flow is determined by the full supergravity equations.

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arXiv2004

Supergravity with Fayet-Iliopoulos terms and R-symmetry

The simplest examples of gauged supergravities are N=1 or N=2 theories with Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) terms. FI terms in supergravity imply that the R-symmetry is gauged. Also the U(1) or SU(2) local symmetries of Kaehler and quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds contribute to R-symmetry gauge fields. This short review clarifies the relations.

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arXiv2004

Superconformal Symmetry, Supergravity and Cosmology

We introduce the general N=1 gauge theory superconformally coupled to supergravity. The theory has local SU(2,2|1) symmetry and no dimensional parameters. The superconformal origin of the Fayet-Iliopoulos terms is clarified. The phase of this theory with spontaneously broken conformal symmetry gives various formulations of N=1 supergravity interacting with matter, depending on the choice of the R-symmetry fixing. We have found that the locally superconformal theory is useful for describing the physics of the early universe with a conformally flat FRW metric. Few applications of superconformal theory to cosmology include the study of i) particle production after inflation, particularly the non-conformal helicity 1/2 states of gravitino, ii) the super-Higgs effect in cosmology and the derivation of the equations for the gravitino interacting with any number of chiral and vector multiplets in the gravitational background with varying scalar fields, iii) the weak coupling limit of supergravity and gravitino-goldstino equivalence. This explains why gravitino production in the early universe is not suppressed in the limit of weak gravitational coupling. We discuss the possible existence of an unbroken phase of the superconformal theories, interpreted as a strong coupling limit of supergravity.

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arXiv2004

Polyvector Super-Poincare Algebras

A class of Z_2-graded Lie algebra and Lie superalgebra extensions of the pseudo-orthogonal algebra of a spacetime of arbitrary dimension and signature is investigated. They have the form g = g_0 + g_1, with g_0 = so(V) + W_0 and g_1 = W_1, where the algebra of generalized translations W = W_0 + W_1 is the maximal solvable ideal of g, W_0 is generated by W_1 and commutes with W. Choosing W_1 to be a spinorial so(V)-module (a sum of an arbitrary number of spinors and semispinors), we prove that W_0 consists of polyvectors, i.e. all the irreducible so(V)-submodules of W_0 are submodules of ΛV. We provide a classification of such Lie (super)algebras for all dimensions and signatures. The problem reduces to the classification of so(V)-invariant Λ^k V-valued bilinear forms on the spinor module S.

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arXiv2004

Fayet-Iliopoulos Terms in Supergravity and Cosmology

We clarify the structure of N=1 supergravity in 1+3 dimensions with constant FI terms. The FI terms induce non-vanishing R-charges for the fermions and the superpotential. Therefore the D-term inflation model in supergravity with constant FI terms has to be revisited. We also investigate the case of the so-called anomalous U(1) when a chiral superfield is shifted under U(1). In such a case, in the context of string theory, the FI terms originate from the derivative of the Kaehler potential and they are inevitably field-dependent. This raises an issue of stabilization of the relevant field in applications to cosmology. The recently suggested equivalence between the D-term strings and D-branes of type II theory shows that brane-anti-brane systems produce FI terms in the effective 4d theory, with the Ramond-Ramond axion shifting under the U(1) symmetry. This connection gives the possibility to interpret many unknown properties of D-\bar{D} systems in the more familiar language of 4d supergravity D-terms, and vice versa. For instance, the shift of the axion field in both cases restricts the possible forms of the moduli-stabilizing superpotential. We provide some additional consistency checks of the correspondence of D-term-strings to D-branes and show that instabilities of the two are closely related. Surviving cosmic D-strings of type II theory may be potentially observed in the form of D-term strings of 4d supergravity.

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arXiv2004

D-term strings

We study the embedding of cosmic strings, related to the Abrikosov-Nielsen-Olesen vortex solution, into d=4, N=1 supergravity. We find that the local cosmic string solution which saturates the BPS bound of supergravity with $D$-term potential for the Higgs field and with constant Fayet--Iliopoulos term, has 1/2 of supersymmetry unbroken. We observe an interesting relation between the gravitino supersymmetry transformation, positive energy condition and the deficit angle of the cosmic string. We argue that the string solutions with magnetic flux with F-term potential cannot be supersymmetric, which leads us to a conjecture that D1-strings (wrapped D(1+q)-branes) of string theory in the effective 4d supergravity are described by the D-term strings that we study in this paper. We give various consistency checks of this conjecture, and show that it highlights some generic properties of non-BPS string theory backgrounds, such as brane-anti-brane systems. Supersymmetry breaking by such systems can be viewed as FI D-term breaking, which implies, under certain conditions, the presence of gauged R-symmetry on such backgrounds. The D-term nature of the brane-anti-brane energy can also provide information on the superpotential for the tachyon, which Higgses the R-symmetry. In this picture, the inter-brane force can be viewed as a result of the world-volume gauge coupling renormalization by the open string loops.

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arXiv2003

Supertubes in reduced holonomy manifolds

We show that the supertube configurations exist in all supersymmetric type IIA backgrounds which are purely geometrical and which have, at least, one flat direction. In other words, they exist in any spacetime of the form R^{1,1} x M_8, with M_8 any of the usual reduced holonomy manifolds. These generalised supertubes preserve 1/4 of the supersymmetries preserved by the choice of the manifold M_8. We also support this picture with the construction of their corresponding family of IIA supergravity backgrounds preserving from 1/4 to 1/32 of the total supercharges.

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arXiv2003

Structure of supergravity theories

We give an elementary introduction to the structure of supergravity theories. This leads to a table with an overview of supergravity and supersymmetry theories in dimensions 4 to 11. The basic steps in constructing supergravity theories are considered: determination of the underlying algebra, the multiplets, the actions, and solutions. Finally, an overview is given of the geometries that result from the scalars of supergravity theories.

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arXiv2003

N=2 supergravity models with stable de Sitter vacua

In the present talk I shall review the construction of N=2 supergravity models exhibiting stable de Sitter vacua. These solutions represent the first instance of stable backgrounds with positive cosmological constant in the framework of extended supergravities (N >=2). After briefly reviewing the role of de Sitter space--times in inflationary cosmology, I shall describe the main ingredients which were necessary for the construction of gauged N=2 supergravity models admitting stable solutions of this kind.

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arXiv2002

Stable de Sitter Vacua from N=2 Supergravity

We find extrema of the potential of matter couplings to N=2 supergravity that define de Sitter vacua and no tachyonic modes. There are three essential ingredients in our construction: namely non-abelian non-compact gaugings, de Roo-Wagemans rotation angles, and Fayet-Iliopoulos terms.

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arXiv2001

Special geometries, from real to quaternionic

Special geometry is most known from 4-dimensional N=2 supergravity, though it contains also quaternionic and real geometries. In this review, we first repeat the connections between the various special geometries. Then the constructions are given starting from the superconformal approach. Without going in detail, we give the main underlying principles. We devote special attention to the quaternionic manifolds, introducing the notion of hypercomplex geometry, being manifolds close to hyperkaehler manifolds but without a metric. These are related to supersymmetry models without an action.

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arXiv2001

Flows on quaternionic-Kaehler and very special real manifolds

BPS solutions of 5-dimensional supergravity correspond to certain gradient flows on the product M x N of a quaternionic-Kaehler manifold M of negative scalar curvature and a very special real manifold N of dimension n >=0. Such gradient flows are generated by the `energy function' f = P^2, where P is a (bundle-valued) moment map associated to n+1 Killing vector fields on M. We calculate the Hessian of f at critical points and derive some properties of its spectrum for general quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds. For the homogeneous quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds we prove more specific results depending on the structure of the isotropy group. For example, we show that there always exists a Killing vector field vanishing at a point p in M such that the Hessian of f at p has split signature. This generalizes results obtained recently for the complex hyperbolic plane (universal hypermultiplet) in the context of 5-dimensional supergravity. For symmetric quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds we show the existence of non-degenerate local extrema of f, for appropriate Killing vector fields. On the other hand, for the non-symmetric homogeneous quaternionic-Kaehler manifolds we find degenerate local minima.

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arXiv2001

The scalars of N=2, D=5 and attractor equations

Theories in 5 dimensions with minimal supersymmetry are studied for domain-wall solutions and in the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence. The scalar manifold is a product of a very special real manifold and a quaternionic-Kaehler manifold. Superconformal methods can clarify the structure of these manifolds, which are part of the family of special manifolds. BPS solutions depending on the scalars and a warp factor of the 5-dimensional metric with a flat 4-dimensional metric can interpolate between critical points determined by algebraic attractor equations. The mixing of vector and hypermultiplets is essential to obtain UV and IR critical points.

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arXiv2000

Supersymmetry of RS bulk and brane

We review the construction of actions with supersymmetry on spaces with a domain wall. The latter objects act as sources inducing a jump in the gauge coupling constant. Despite these singularities, supersymmetry can be formulated, maintaining its role as a square root of translations in this singular space. The setup is designed for the application in five dimensions related to the Randall-Sundrum (RS) scenario. The space has two domain walls. We discuss the solutions of the theory with fixed scalars and full preserved supersymmetry, in which case one of the branes can be pushed to infinity, and solutions where half of the supersymmetries are preserved.

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arXiv2000

Conformal Symmetry on World Volumes of Branes

We show how the anti-de Sitter isometries of a brane solution of supergravity theory produce superconformal invariance of their world-volume action. In this way linear as well as non-linear superconformal actions are obtained in various dimensions. Two particular examples are a conformal action with the antisymmetric tensor in 6 dimensions in Pasti-Sorokin-Tonin formulation, and superconformal mechanics.

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arXiv2000

Supersymmetry in Singular Spaces

We develop the concept of supersymmetry in singular spaces, apply it in an example for 3-branes in D=5 and comment on 8-branes in D=10. The new construction has an interpretation that the brane is a sink for the flux and requires adding to the standard supergravity a (D-1)-form field and a supersymmetry singlet field. This allows a consistent definition of supersymmetry on a S_1/Z_2 orbifold, the bulk and the brane actions being separately supersymmetric. Randall-Sundrum brane-worlds can be reproduced in this framework without fine tuning. For fixed scalars, the doubling of unbroken supersymmetries takes place and the negative tension brane can be pushed to infinity. In more general BPS domain walls with 1/2 of unbroken supersymmetries, the distance between branes in some cases may be restricted by the collapsing cycles of the Calabi-Yau manifold. The energy of any static x^5-dependent bosonic configuration vanishes, E=0, in analogy with the vanishing of the Hamiltonian in a closed universe.

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arXiv2000

The unifying superalgebra OSp(1|32)

We show how OSp(1|32) gives a unifying framework to describe d=10 type II string theories, d=11 M-theory and d=12 F-theory. The theories are related by different identifications of their symmetry operators as generators of OSp(1|32). T- and S-dualities are recognized as redefinitions of generators. Some (s,t) signatures of spacetime allow reality conditions on the generators. All those that allow a real structure are related again by redefinitions within the algebra, due to the fact that the algebra OSp(1|32) has only one real realization. The redefinitions include space/space, time/time and space/time dualities. A further distinction between the theories is made by the identification of the translation generator. This distinguishes various versions of type II string theories, in particular the so-called *-theories, characterized by the fact that the P_0 generator is not the (unique) positive-definite energy operator in the algebra.

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