Manifestly supersymmetric M-theory

TL;DR

This paper develops a manifestly supersymmetric off-shell formulation of eleven-dimensional supergravity, facilitating the study of M-theory's low-energy effective dynamics and higher-derivative corrections.

Contribution

It introduces a relaxation of superspace torsion constraints that includes a current supermultiplet, advancing off-shell formulations of M-theory's supergravity.

Findings

Accommodates a current supermultiplet lifting equations of motion

Supports potential construction of off-shell Lagrangian

Provides a framework for higher-derivative corrections

Abstract

In this paper, the low-energy effective dynamics of M-theory, eleven-dimensional supergravity, is taken off-shell in a manifestly supersymmetric formulation. We show that a previously proposed relaxation of the superspace torsion constraints does indeed accommodate a current supermultiplet which lifts the equations of motion corresponding to the ordinary second order derivative supergravity lagrangian. Whether the auxiliary fields obtained this way can be used to construct an off-shell lagrangian is not yet known. We comment on the relation and application of this completely general formalism to higher-derivative (R^4) corrections. Some details of the calculation are saved for a later publication.