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S. Ferrara

Publications and source records attributed to S. Ferrara.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
arXiv2002

Considerations on Super Poincare Algebras and their Extensions to Simple Superalgebras

We consider simple superalgebras which are a supersymmetric extension of $\fspin(s,t)$ in the cases where the number of odd generators does not exceed 64. All of them contain a super Poincaré algebra as a contraction and another as a subalgebra. Because of the contraction property, some of these algebras can be interpreted as de Sitter or anti de Sitter superalgebras. However, the number of odd generators present in the contraction is not always minimal due to the different splitting properties of the spinor representations under a subalgebra. We consider the general case, with arbitrary dimension and signature, and examine in detail particular examples with physical implications in dimensions $d=10$ and $d=4$.

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arXiv2001

(2,0) Superconformal OPEs in D=6, Selection Rules and Non-renormalization Theorems

We analyse the OPE of any two 1/2 BPS operators of (2,0) SCFT$_6$ by constructing all possible three-point functions that they can form with another, in general long operator. Such three-point functions are uniquely determined by superconformal symmetry. Selection rules are derived, which allow us to infer ``non-renormalization theorems'' for an abstract superconformal field theory. The latter is supposedly related to the strong-coupling dynamics of $N_c$ coincident M5 branes, dual, in the large-$N_c$ limit, to the bulk M-theory compactified on AdS$_7 \times$S$_4$. An interpretation of extremal and next-to-extremal correlators in terms of exchange of operators with protected conformal dimension is given.

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arXiv2001

Spinor Algebras

We consider supersymmetry algebras in space-times with arbitrary signature and minimal number of spinor generators. The interrelation between super Poincaré and super conformal algebras is elucidated. Minimal super conformal algebras are seen to have as bosonic part a classical semimisimple algebra naturally associated to the spin group. This algebra, the Spin$(s,t)$-algebra, depends both on the dimension and on the signature of space time. We also consider maximal super conformal algebras, which are classified by the orthosymplectic algebras.

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arXiv2001

On the Embedding of Space-Time Symmetries into Simple Superalgebras

We explore the embedding of Spin groups of arbitrary dimension and signature into simple superalgebras in the case of extended supersymmetry. The R-symmetry, which generically is not compact, can be chosen compact for all the cases that are congruent mod 8 to the physical conformal algebra so($D-2$,2), $D\geq 3$. An $\rm{so}(1,1)$ grading of the superalgebra is found in all cases. Central extensions of super translation algebras are studied in this framework.

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arXiv2001

Spinors, superalgebras and the signature of space-time

Superconformal algebras embedding space-time in any dimension and signature are considered. Different real forms of the $R$-symmetries arise both for usual space-time signature (one time) and for Euclidean or exotic signatures (more than one times). Application of these superalgebras are found in the context of supergravities with 32 supersymmetries, in any dimension $D \leq 11$. These theories are related to $D = 11, M, M^*$ and $M^\prime$ theories or $D = 10$, IIB, IIB$^*$ theories when compactified on Lorentzian tori. All dimensionally reduced theories fall in three distinct phases specified by the number of (128 bosonic) positive and negative norm states: $(n^+,n^-) = (128,0), (64,64), (72,56)$.

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arXiv2000

Matter Coupled F(4) Supergravity and the AdS_6/CFT_5 Correspondence

F(4) supergravity, the gauge theory of the exceptional six-dimensional Anti-de Sitter superalgebra, is coupled to an arbitrary number of vector multiplets whose scalar components parametrize the quaternionic manifold $SO(4,n)/SO(4)\times SO(n)$. By gauging the compact subgroup $SU(2)_d \otimes \cG$, where SU(2)_d is the diagonal subgroup of $SO(4)\simeq SU(2)_L\otimes SU(2)_R$ (the R-symmetry group of six-dimensional Poincaré supergravity) and $\cG$ is a compact group such that $dim\cG = n$, we compute the scalar potential which, besides the gauge coupling constants, also depends in non trivial way on the parameter m associated to a massive 2-form $B_{μν}$ of the gravitational multiplet. The potential admits an AdS background for g=3m, as the pure F(4)-supergravity. We compute the scalar squared masses (which are all negative) and retrieve the results dictated by AdS_6/CFT_5 correspondence from the conformal dimensions of boundary operators. The boundary F(4) superconformal fields are realized in terms of a singleton superfield (hypermultiplet) in harmonic superspace with flag manifold SU(2)/U(1)=S^2. We analize the spectrum of short representations in terms of superconformal primaries and predict general features of the K-K specrum of massive type IIA supergravity compactified on warped $AdS_6\otimes S^4$.

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arXiv2000

Conformal Fields in Higher Dimensions

We generalize, to any space-time dimension, the unitarity bounds of highest weight UIR's of the conformal groups with Lie algebras $so(2,d)$. We classify gauge theories invariant under $so(2,d)$, both integral and half-integral spins. A similar analysis is carried out for the algebras $so^*(2n)$. We study new unitary modules of the conformal algebra in $d>4$, that have no analogue for $d\leq 4$ as they cannot be obtained by "squaring" singletons. This may suggest the interpretation of higher dimensional non-trivial conformal field theories as theories of "tensionless" $p$-branes of which tensionless strings in $d=6$ are just particular examples.

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arXiv2000

Short representations of SU(2,2/N) and harmonic superspace analyticity

We consider the harmonic superspaces associated to SU(2,2/N) superconformal algebras. For arbitrary N, we show that massless representations, other than the chiral ones, correspond to [N/2] ``elementary'' ultrashort analytic superfields whose first component is a scalar in the k antisymmetric irrep of SU(N) (k=1... [N/2]) with top spin $J_{\rm\scriptsize top}= (N/2-k/2,0)$. For N=2n we analyze UIR's obtained by tensoring the self-conjugate ultrashort multiplet $J_{\rm\scriptsize top}$= (n/2,0) and show that N-1 different basic products give rise to all possible UIR's with residual shortening.

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arXiv2000

Shortening of primary operators in N-extended SCFT_4 and harmonic-superspace analyticity

We present the analysis of all possible shortenings which occur for composite gauge invariant conformal primary superfields in SU(2,2/N) invariant gauge theories. These primaries have top-spin range N/2 \leq J_{max} < N with J_{max} = J_1 + J_2, (J_1,J_2) being the SL(2,C) quantum numbers of the highest spin component of the superfield. In Harmonic superspace, analytic and chiral superfields give J_{max}= N/2 series while intermediate shortenings correspond to fusion of chiral with analytic in N=2, or analytic with different analytic structures in N=3,4. In the AdS/CFT language shortenings of UIR's correspond to all possible BPS conditions on bulk states. An application of this analysis to multitrace operators, corresponding to multiparticle supergravity states, is spelled out.

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arXiv2000

Supergravity Predictions on Conformal Field Theories

We give an update on recent results about the matching between CFT operators and KK states in the AdS/CFT correspondence, and add some new comments on the realization of the baryonic symmetries from the supergravity point of view.

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arXiv2000

Some Aspects of Deformations of Supersymmetric Field Theories

We investigate some aspects of Moyal-Weyl deformations of superspace and their compatibility with supersymmetry. For the simplest case, when only bosonic coordinates are deformed, we consider a four dimensional supersymmetric field theory which is the deformation of the Wess-Zumino renormalizable theory of a chiral superfield. We then consider the deformation of a free theory of an abelian vector multiplet, which is a non commutative version of the rank one Yang-Mills theory. We finally give the supersymmetric version of the $α'\mapsto 0$ limit of the Born-Infeld action with a B-field turned on, which is believed to be related to the non commutative U(1) gauge theory.

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arXiv1999

M Theory on the Stiefel manifold and 3d Conformal Field Theories

We compute the mass and multiplet spectrum of M theory compactified on the product of AdS(4) spacetime by the Stiefel manifold V(5,2)=SO(5)/SO(3), and we use this information to deduce via the AdS/CFT map the primary operator content of the boundary N=2 conformal field theory. We make an attempt for a candidate supersymmetric gauge theory that, at strong coupling, should be related to parallel M2-branes on the singular point of the non-compact Calabi-Yau four-fold $\sum_{a=1}^5 z_a^2 = 0$, describing the cone on V(5,2).

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arXiv1999

Superconformal field theories from IIB spectroscopy on $AdS_5\times T^{11}$

We report on tests of the AdS/CFT correspondence that are made possible by complete knowledge of the Kaluza-Klein mass spectrum of type IIB supergravity on $AdS_5 \times T^{11}$ with T^{11}=SU(2)^2/U(1). After briefly discussing general multiplet shortening conditions in SU(2,2|1) and PSU(2,2|4), we compare various types of short SU(2,2|1) supermultiplets on AdS_5 and different families of boundary operators with protected dimensions. The supergravity analysis predicts the occurrence in the SCFT at leading order in N and g_s N, of extra towers of long multiplets whose dimensions are rational but not protected by supersymmetry.

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arXiv1999

AdS Superalgebras with Brane Charges

We consider the inclusion of brane charges in AdS_5 superalgebras that contain the maximal central extension of the super-Poincaré algebra on the boundary of AdS_5. For theories with N supersymmetries on the boundary, the maximal extension is OSp(1/8N,R), which contains the group $Sp(8N,R)\supset U(2N,2N) \supset SU(2,2)\times U(N)$ as extension of the conformal group. An ``intermediate'' extension to U(2N,2N/1) is also discussed, as well as the inclusion of brane charges in AdS_7 and AdS_4 superalgebras. BPS conditions in the presence of brane charges are studied in some details.

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arXiv1998

On short and long SU(2,2/4) multiplets in the AdS/CFT correspondence

We analyze short and long multiplets which appear in the OPE expansion of ``chiral'' primary operators in N=4 Super Yang--Mills theory. Among them, higher spin long and new short multiplets appear, having the interpretation, in the AdS/CFT correspondence, of string states and supergravity multiparticle states respectively. We also analyze the decomposition of long multiplets under N=1 supersymmetry, as a possible tool to explore other supersymmetric deformations of IIB string on AdS_5 x S_5.

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