Symplectic structure of N=1 supergravity with anomalies and Chern-Simons terms

TL;DR

This paper explores the complex interplay of Peccei-Quinn terms, Chern-Simons terms, and anomalies in N=1 supergravity, establishing conditions for their mutual consistency and extending the theoretical framework for string compactifications.

Contribution

It clarifies the role of generalized Chern-Simons terms and anomalies in N=1 supergravity, extending previous models through symplectic duality group embedding.

Findings

Conditions for consistency of anomalies and Chern-Simons terms

Extension of supergravity actions with symplectic duality

Framework for string compactification studies

Abstract

The general actions of matter-coupled N=1 supergravity have Peccei-Quinn terms that may violate gauge and supersymmetry invariance. In addition, N=1 supergravity with vector multiplets may also contain generalized Chern-Simons terms. These have often been neglected in the literature despite their importance for gauge and supersymmetry invariance. We clarify the interplay of Peccei-Quinn terms, generalized Chern-Simons terms and quantum anomalies in the context of N=1 supergravity and exhibit conditions that have to be satisfied for their mutual consistency. This extension of the previously known N=1 matter-coupled supergravity actions follows naturally from the embedding of the gauge group into the group of symplectic duality transformations. Our results regarding this extension provide the supersymmetric framework for studies of string compactifications with axionic shift symmetries, generalized Chern-Simons terms and quantum anomalies.