Cancellation of Conformal and Chiral Anomalies in $N \geq 5$ supergravities

TL;DR

This paper explains why conformal and chiral anomalies cancel in N≥5 supergravities using supersymmetry and superfield dimensions, contrasting with models with fewer supersymmetries where anomalies persist.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical explanation for anomaly cancellations in high-N supergravities based on supersymmetry and superfield properties.

Findings

Anomalies cancel in N≥5 supergravities due to supersymmetry.

Models with N<5 exhibit both conformal and chiral anomalies.

Supersymmetry and superfield dimensions are key to anomaly cancellation.

Abstract

A cancellation of conformal anomalies in d=4 for the $C^2+\bar C^2$ and of chiral anomalies for the $C^2-\bar C^2$ is known in N-extended supergravities with $N \geq 5$. We propose an explanation of these cancellations using supersymmetry and dimension of linearized chiral superfields. We contrast these models with the ones with $N < 5$, where both types of anomalies are known to be present.