Superspace formulations of ten-dimensional supergravity

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new superspace formulation for ten-dimensional N=1 supergravity with a Lorentz Chern-Simons form, providing a consistent, simplified, and perturbatively expandable framework that unifies previous solutions.

Contribution

It presents the first algebraically consistent superspace formulation of D=10 supergravity that is suitable for higher order analysis and unifies existing solutions.

Findings

Solution of Bianchi identities consistent to all orders in alpha'

Simplest first-order formulation for explicit higher order analysis

Reconciliation of previously inequivalent first-order solutions

Abstract

We present a new formulation for N=1, D=10 supergravity in superspace, in presence of a Lorentz Chern-Simons-form. This formulation entails the following properties: it furnishes a solution of the Bianchi identities that is algebraically consistent to all orders in alpha'; at first order it is the simplest formulation proposed so far, and it is therefore most suitable for an explicit higher order analysis; it allows a well defined perturbative expansion in alpha', in which no poltergeist fields appear; it reconciles the two different classes of first order solutions available in the literature, that until now appeared physically inequivalent.