Streamlined Supergravity

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to construct arbitrary scalar potentials in supergravity models with nilpotent superfields by appropriately choosing the Kahler metric, enhancing flexibility for cosmological and particle physics applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to generate any desired potential in supergravity with nilpotent superfields through specific Kahler metric choices.

Findings

Any scalar potential can be realized with a nilpotent superfield.

The method allows maximal freedom in kinetic terms and potentials.

Suitable for cosmological and particle physics model building.

Abstract

The textbook N=1 supergravity has an F-term potential depending on a superpotential $W(z_i)$ and a Kahler potential $K(z^i, \bar z^{\bar i})$, with the scalar potential $V(z^i, \bar z^{\bar i})=e^K (|DW|^2 - 3 |W|^2)$. In this approach, it is not always easy to find the potential $V(z^i, \bar z^{\bar i})$ with the required properties. We show that in supergravity with a nilpotent superfield and with any Kahler potential $K(z^i, \bar z^{\bar i} )$ one can obtain any desired potential $V(z^i, \bar z^{\bar i})$ by a proper choice of the Kahler metric of the nilpotent superfield. This construction is particularly suitable for cosmological and particle physics applications, which may require maximal freedom in the choice of kinetic terms and scalar potentials.