The Non-Split Scalar Coset in Supergravity Theories

The mathematical framework for an exact quantization of the two-dimensional coset space sigma-models coupled to dilaton gravity, that arise from dimensional reduction of gravity and supergravity theories, is presented. Extending previous results the two-time Hamiltonian formulation is obtained, which describes the complete phase space of the model in the isomonodromic sector. The Dirac brackets arising from the coset constraints are calculated. Their quantization allows to re...

The hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebra E10 has repeatedly been suggested to play a crucial role in the symmetry structure of M-theory. Recently, following the analysis of the asymptotic behaviour of the supergravity fields near a cosmological singularity, this question has received a new impulse. It has been argued that one way to exhibit the symmetry was to rewrite the supergravity equations as the equations of motion of the non-linear sigma model E10/K(E10). This attempt, in line...

We analyse the global (rigid) symmetries that are realised on the bosonic fields of the various supergravity actions obtained from eleven-dimensional supergravity by toroidal compactification followed by the dualisation of some subset of fields. In particular, we show how the global symmetries of the action can be affected by the choice of this subset. This phenomenon occurs even with the global symmetries of the equations of motion. A striking regularity is exhibited by the ...

A range of bosonic models can be expressed as (sometimes generalized) $\sigma$-models, with equations of motion coming from a selfduality constraint. We show that in D=2, this is easily extended to supersymmetric cases, in a superspace approach. In particular, we find that the configurations of fields of a superconformal $\mathfrak{G}/\mathfrak{H}$ coset models which satisfy some selfduality constraint are automatically solutions to the equations of motion of the model. Final...

A supersymmetric approach to string quantum cosmology based on the non-compact, global duality symmetries of the effective action is developed. An N=2 supersymmetric action is derived whose bosonic component is the Neveu-Schwarz/Neveu-Schwarz sector of the $(d+1)$--dimensional effective action compactified on a $d$--torus. A representation for the supercharges is found and the form of the zero-and one-fermion quantum states is determined. The purely bosonic component of the w...

Kerr-Schild perturbations in General Relativity provide a fruitful way of constructing new exact solutions starting from known ones, elucidating also the structure of the spacetimes. We initiate such a study in the context of string theory and supergravity. Specifically, we explicitly construct Kerr-Schild perturbations of coset CFTs based on low dimensionality orthogonal groups. We show that these give rise to scale, but not Weyl, invariant integrable $\sigma$-models. We exp...

We establish a dynamical equivalence between the bosonic part of pure type I supergravity in D=10 and a D=1 non-linear sigma-model on the Kac-Moody coset space DE(10)/K(DE(10)) if both theories are suitably truncated. To this end we make use of a decomposition of DE(10) under its regular SO(9,9) subgroup. Our analysis also deals partly with the fermionic fields of the supergravity theory and we define corresponding representations of the generalized spatial Lorentz group K(DE...

We report briefly on an approach to quantum theory entirely based on symmetry grounds which improves Geometric Quantization in some respects and provides an alternative to the canonical framework. The present scheme, being typically non-perturbative, is primarily intended for non-linear systems, although needless to say that finding the basic symmetry associated with a given (quantum) physical problem is in general a difficult task, which many times nearly emulates the comple...

Using sigma-model approach, we study a class of coset spaces with torsion which compactify the D=26 closed bose-string theory. Requiring also that massless chiral fermions arise from the geometry/topology of coset space, we are left with the unique possibility: it implies D=14 subcritical dimensions and the isometry group G_2 X G_2.

An introduction to and a partial review of supergravity theories is given, insisting on concepts and on some important technical aspects. Topics covered include elements of global supersymmetry, a derivation of the simplest N=1 supergravity theory, a discussion of N=1 matter-supergravity couplings, of the scalar sector and of some simple models. Space-time is four-dimensional.