arXiv subjects

Sergei V. Ketov

Publications and source records attributed to Sergei V. Ketov.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

Exact low-energy effective actions for hypermultiplets in four dimensions

We consider the general hypermultiplet Low-Energy Effective Action (LEEA) that may appear in quantized, four-dimensional, N=2 supersymmetric, gauge theories, e.g. in the Coulomb and Higgs branches. Our main purpose is a description of the exact LEEA of n magnetically charged hypermultiplets. The hypermultiplet LEEA is given by the N=2 supersymmetric Non-Linear Sigma-Model (NLSM) with a 4n-dimensional hyper-K"ahler metric, subject to non-anomalous symmetries. Harmonic Superspace (HSS) and the NLSM isometries are very useful to constrain the hyper-K"ahler geometry of the LEEA. We use N=2 supersymmetric projections of HSS superfields to N=2 linear (tensor) O(2) and O(4) multiplets in N=2 Projective Superspace (PSS) to deduce the explicit form of the LEEA in some particular cases. As the by-product, a simple new classification of all multi-monopole moduli space metrics having su(2)_R symmetry is proposed in terms of real quartic polynomials of 2n variables, modulo Sp(n) transformations. The 4d hypermultiplet LEEA for n=2 can be encoded in terms of an elliptic curve.

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arXiv1999

Exact hypermultiplet dynamics in four dimensions

We use N=2 harmonic and projective superspaces to formulate the most general `Ansatz' for the SU(2)_R invariant hypermultiplet low-energy effective action (LEEA) in four dimensions, which describes the two-parametric family of the hyper-K"ahler metrics generalizing the Atiyah-Hitchin metric. We then demonstrate in the very explicit and manifestly N=2 supersymmetric way that the (magnetically charged, massive) single hypermultiplet LEEA in the underlying non-abelian N=2 supersymmetric quantum field theory can receive both perturbative (e.g., in the Coulomb branch) and non-perturbative (e.g., in the Higgs branch) quantum corrections. The manifestly N=2 supersymmetric Feynman rules in harmonic superspace can be used to calculate the perturbative corrections described by the Taub-NUT metric. The non-perturbative corrections (due to instantons and anti-instantons) can be encoded in terms of an elliptic curve, which is very reminiscent to the Seiberg-Witten theory. Our four-dimensional results agree with the three-dimensional Seiberg-Witten theory and instanton calculations.

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arXiv1999

Born-Infeld-Goldstone superfield actions for gauge-fixed D-5- and D-3-branes in 6d

The supersymmetric Born-Infeld actions describing gauge-fixed D-5- and D-3-branes in ambient six-dimensional (6d) spacetime are constructed in superspace. A new 6d action is the (1,0) supersymmetric extension of the 6d Born-Infeld action. It is related via dimensional reduction to another remarkable 4d action describing the N=2 supersymmetric extension of the Born-Infeld-Nambu-Goto action with two real scalars. Both actions are the Goldstone actions associated with partial (1/2) spontaneous breaking of extended supersymmetry having 16 supercharges down to 8 supercharges. Both actions can be put into the `non-linear sigma-model' form by using certain non-linear superfield constraints. The unbroken supersymmetry is always linearly realised in our construction.

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arXiv1999

A manifestly N=2 supersymmetric Born-Infeld action

A manifestly N=2 supersymmetric completion of the four-dimensional Nambu-Goto-Born-Infeld action, which is self-dual with respect to electric-magnetic duality, is constructed in terms of the abelian N=2 superfield strength W in the conventional N=2 superspace. A relation to the known N=1 supersymmetric Born-Infeld action in N=1 superspace is established. The action found can be considered either as the Goldstone action associated with partial breaking of N=4 supersymmetry down to N=2, with the N=2 vector superfield being a Goldstone field, or, equivalently, as the gauge-fixed superfield action of a D-3-brane in flat six-dimensional ambient spacetime.

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arXiv1998

AdS/CFT correspondence and coincident D-6-branes

A relation between confinement and Maldacena conjecture is briefly discussed. The gauge symmetry enhancement for two coincident D-6-branes is analyzed from the viewpoint of the hypermultiplet low-energy effective action given by the N=2 supersymmetric non-linear sigma-model with the Eguchi-Hanson (ALE) target space.

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arXiv1998

Dynamical generation of gauge and Higgs bosons in N=2 supersymmetric non-linear sigma-models

A four-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric non-linear sigma-model with the Eguchi-Hanson (ALE) target space and a non-vanishing central charge is rewritten to a classically equivalent and formally renormalizable gauged `linear' sigma-model over a non-compact coset space in N=2 harmonic superspace by making use of an N=2 vector gauge superfield as the Lagrange multiplier. It is then demonstrated that the N=2 vector gauge multiplet becomes dynamical after taking into account one-loop corrections due to quantized hypermultiplets. This implies the appearance of a composite gauge boson, a composite chiral spinor doublet and a composite complex Higgs particle, all defined as the physical states associated with the propagating N=2 vector gauge superfield. The composite N=2 vector multiplet is further identified with the zero modes of a superstring ending on a D-6-brane. Some non-perturbative phenomena, such as the gauge symmetry enhancement for coincident D-6-branes and the Maldacena conjecture, turn out to be closely related to our NLSM via M-theory. Our results support a conjecture about the composite nature of superstrings ending on D-branes.

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arXiv1998

Making manifest the symmetry enhancement for coincident BPS branes

We consider g coincident M-5-branes on top of each other, in the KK monopole background Q of multiplicity N. The worldvolume of each M-5-brane is supposed to be given by the local product of the four-dimensional spacetime and an elliptic curve. In the coincidence limit, all these curves yield a single (Seiberg-Witten) hyperelliptic curve, while the gauge symmetry is enhanced to U(N). We make this gauge symmetry enhancement manifest by considering the hypermultiplet LEEA which is given by the spacetime N=2 non-linear sigma-model (NLSM) having Q as the target space. The hyper-K"ahler manifold Q is given by the multicentre Taub-NUT space, which in the coincidence limit amounts to the multiple Eguchi-Hanson (ALE) space Q. The NLSM is most naturally described in terms of the hyper-K"ahler coset construction on SU(N,N)/U(N) in harmonic superspace, by using the auxiliary (in classical theory) N=2 vector superfields as Lagrange multipliers, with FI terms resolving the singularity. The Maldacena limit, in which the hypermultiplet LEEA becomes extended to the N=4 SYM with the gauge group U(N), arises in quantum field theory due to a dynamical generation of the N=2 vector and hypermultipet superfields, when sending the FI terms to zero.

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arXiv1998

Analytic tools to brane technology in N=2 gauge theories with matter

Exact solutions to the low-energy effective action (LEEA) of the four-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric gauge field theories are known to be obtained either by quantum field theory methods from S-duality in the Seiberg-Witten approach, or by the Type-IIA superstring/M-Theory methods of brane technology. After a brief review of the standard field-theoretical results for the N=2 gauge (Seiberg-Witten) LEEA, we consider a field-theoretical derivation of the exact hypermultiplet LEEA by using the N=2 harmonic superspace methods. We illustrate our techniques on a number of explicit examples. Our main purpose, however, is to discuss the existing analytical (calculational) support for the alternative methods of brane technology. We summarize known exact solutions to the eleven-dimensional and ten-dimensional type-IIA supergravities, which describe classical configurations of intersecting BPS branes with eight supercharges relevant to the non-perturbative N=2 gauge field theory with fundamental hypermultiplet matter. The crucial role of M-Theory in providing a classical resolution of singularities in the ten-dimensional (Type-IIA superstring) brane picture, as well as the N=2 extended supersymmetry in four dimensions, are made manifest. The two approaches to a derivation of the exact N=2 gauge theory LEEA are thus seen to be complementary to each other and mutually dependent.

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arXiv1998

On the next-to-leading-order correction to the effective action in N=2 gauge theories

I attempt to analyse the next-to-leading-order non-holomorphic contribution to the Wilsonian low-energy effective action in the four-dimensional N=2 gauge theories with matter, from the manifestly N=2 supersymmeric point of view, by using the harmonic superspace. The perturbative one-loop correction is found to be in agreement with the N=1 superfield calculations of de Wit, Grisaru and Rocek. The previously unknown coefficient in front of this non-holomorphic correction is calculated. A special attention is devoted to the N=2 superconformal gauge theories, whose one-loop non-holomorphic contribution is likely to be exact, even non-perturbatively. This leading (one-loop) non-holomorphic contribution to the LEEA of the N=2 superconformally invariant gauge field theories is calculated, and it does not vanish, similarly to the case of the N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory.

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arXiv1998

An action of N=8 self-dual supergravity in ultra-hyperbolic harmonic superspace

The N-extended self-dual supergravity in the ultra-hyperbolic four-dimensional spacetime of kleinian signature (2+2) is given in the N-extended harmonic superspace. We reformulate the on-shell N-extended self-dual supergravity constraints of Siegel to a `zero-curvature' representation, and solve all of them but one in terms of a single superfield prepotential, by using a covariant Frobenius gauge in the Devchand-Ogievetsky approach. An off-shell superspace action, whose equation of motion yields the remaining constraint, is found. Our manifestly Lorentz-covariant action in harmonic superspace is very similar to the non-covariant Chern-Simons-type action, which was proposed earlier by Siegel in the light-cone N=8 superspace. Our action is also invariant under the residual superdiffeomorphisms and the residual local OSp(8|2) super-Lorentz rotations, which are left after imposing the Frobenius gauge. The infinitesimal superfield parameters of the residual symmetries are expressed in terms of independent analytic superfields.

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arXiv1997

The hypermultiplet low-energy effective action, N=2 supersymmetry breaking and confinement

Some exact solutions to the hypermultiplet low-energy effective action in N=2 supersymmetric four-dimensional gauge field theories with massive `quark' hypermultiplets are discussed. The need for a spontaneous N=2 supersymmetry breaking is emphasized, because of its possible relevance in the search for an ultimate theoretical solution to the confinement problem.

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arXiv1997

On exact solutions to quantum N=2 gauge theories

Exact solutions to the low-energy effective action of the four-dimensional, N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories with matter (including N=2 super-QCD) are discussed from the three different viewpoints: (i) instanton calculus, (ii) N=2 harmonic superspace, and (iii) M theory. The emphasis is made on the foundations of all three approaches and their relationship.

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arXiv1997

Induced scalar potentials for hypermultiplets

Charged BPS hypermultiplets can develop a non-trivial self-interaction in the Coulomb branch of an N=2 supersymmetric gauge theory, whereas neutral BPS hypermultiplets in the Higgs branch may also have a non-trivial self-interaction in the presence of Fayet-Iliopoulos terms. The exact hypermultiplet low-energy effective action (LEEA) takes the form of the non-linear sigma-model (NLSM) with a hyper-K"ahler metric. A non-trivial scalar potential is also quantum-mechanically generated at non-vanishing central charges, either perturbatively (Coulomb branch), or non-perturbatively (Higgs branch). We calculate the effective scalar potentials for (i) a single charged hypermultiplet in the Coulomb branch and (ii) a single neutral hypermultiplet in the Higgs branch. The first case corresponds to the NLSM with the Taub-NUT (or KK-monopole) metric for the kinetic LEEA, whereas the second one is attached to the NLSM having the Eguchi-Hanson instanton metric.

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arXiv1997

Do the critical (2,2) strings know about a supergravity in 2+10 dimensions ?

The effective field equations of motion for a mixed theory of open and closed (2,2) world-sheet supersymmetric critical strings are shown to be integrable in the case of an abelian gauge group. The Born-Infeld-type effective action in 2+2 dimensions is intrinsically non-covariant, and it can be interpreted as (a part of) the F-brane world-volume action. The covariant F-brane action is unambiguously restored by its maximal (N=8) world-volume supersymmetry. The 32 supercharges, the local SO(2,1) x SO(8) and rigid SL(2,R) symmetries of the F-brane action naturally suggest its interpretation as the hypothetical (non-covariant) self-dual `heterotic' (1,0) supergravity in 2+10 dimensions.

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arXiv1997

The effective hyper-K"ahler potential in the N=2 supersymmetric QCD

The effective low-energy hyper-K"ahler potential for a massive N=2 matter in the N=2 super-QCD is investigated. The N=2 extended supersymmetry severely restricts that N=2 matter self-couplings so that their exact form can be fixed by a few parameters, which is apparent in the N=2 harmonic superspace. In the N=2 QED with a single matter hypermultiplet, the one-loop perturbative calculations lead to the Taub-NUT hyper-K"ahler metric in the massive case, and a free metric in the massless case. It is remarkable that the naive non-renormalization `theorem' does not apply. There exists a manifestly N=2 supersymmetric duality transformation converting the low-energy effective action for the N=2 QED hypermultiplet into a sum of the quadratic and the improved (non-polynomial) actions for an N=2 tensor multiplet. The duality transformation also gives a simple connection between the low-energy effective action in the N=2 harmonic superspace and the component results.

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arXiv1996

Self-duality and F theory

The (2,2) world-sheet supersymmetric string theory is discussed from the viewpoint of string/membrane unification. The effective field theory in the closed string target space is known to be the 2+2 dimensional (integrable) theory of self-dual gravity (SDG). A world-volume supersymmetrization of the Pleba'nski action for SDG naturally implies the maximal N=8 world-volume supersymmetry, while the maximal supersymmetrization of the dual covariant K"ahler-Lorentz-Chern-Simons action for SDG implies gauging a self-dual part of the super-Lorentz symmetry in 2+10 dimensions. The proposed OSp(32|1) supersymmetric action for the M-brane may be useful for a fundamental formulation of uncompactified F theory, with the self-duality being playing the central role both in the world-volume and in the target space of the M-brane.

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arXiv1996

Mixed (open/closed) N=(2,2) string theory as an integrable deformation of self-duality

The exact effective field equations of motion, corresponding to the perturbative mixed theory of open and closed (2,2) world-sheet supersymmetric strings, are investigated. It is shown that they are only integrable in the case of an abelian gauge group. The gravitational equations are then stationary with respect to the Born-Infeld-type effective action.

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arXiv1996

Solitons, monopoles and duality: from sine-Gordon to Seiberg-Witten

An elementary introduction into the Seiberg-Witten theory is given. Many efforts are made to get it as pedagogical as possible, within a reasonable size. The selection of the relevant material is heavily oriented towards graduate students. The basic ideas about solitons, monopoles, supersymmetry and duality are reviewed from first principles, and they are illustrated on the simplest examples. The exact Seiberg-Witten solution to the low-energy effective action of the four-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric pure Yang-Mills theory with the gauge group SU(2) is the main subject of the review. Other gauge groups are also considered. Some related issues (like adding matter, confinement, string dualities) are outlined.

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