Many faces of Born-Infeld theory

TL;DR

This paper reviews the key features of Born-Infeld theory, its supersymmetric extensions, and their roles in string theory and D-brane physics, highlighting recent advances in supersymmetric and supergravitational formulations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of Born-Infeld theory, including new insights into its supersymmetric and non-abelian extensions in four dimensions.

Findings

Born-Infeld theory arises as the low-energy limit of open strings.

Supersymmetric generalizations relate to partial supersymmetry breaking.

Non-abelian N=1 supersymmetric extension is formulated in superspace.

Abstract

Born-Infeld theory is the non-linear generalization of Maxwell electrodynamics. It naturally arises as the low-energy effective action of open strings, and it is also part of the world-volume effective action of D-branes. The N=1 and N=2 supersymmetric generalizations of the Born-Infeld action are closely related to partial spontaneous breaking of rigid extended supersymmetry. We review some remarkable features of the Born-Infeld action and outline its supersymmetric generalizations in four dimensions. The non-abelian N=1 supersymmetric extension of the Born-Infeld theory and its N=1 supergravitational avatars are given in superspace.