On a class of finite sigma-models and string vacua; a supersymmetric extension

Non-linear sigma models with extended supersymmetry have constrained target space geometries, and can serve as effective tools for investigating and constructing new geometries. Analyzing the geometrical and topological properties of sigma models is necessary to understand the underlying structures of string theory. The most general two-dimensional sigma model with manifest N=(2,2) supersymmetry can be parametrized by chiral, twisted chiral and semichiral superfields. In the ...

This is a review of how sigma models formulated in Superspace have become important tools for understanding geometry. Topics included are: The (hyper)k\"ahler reduction; projective superspace; the generalized Legendre construction; generalized K\"ahler geometry and constructions of hyperk\"ahler metrics on Hermitean symmetric spaces.

Starting from the most general harmonic superspace action of self-interacting Q^+ hypermultiplets in the background of N=2 conformal supergravity, we derive the general action for the bosonic sigma model with a generic 4n dimensional quaternionic-Kahler (QK) manifold as the target space. The action is determined by the analytic harmonic QK potential. We find out this action to have two flat limits. One gives the hyper-Kahler sigma model with a 4n dimensional target manifold, ...

Semichiral sigma models with a four-dimensional target space do not support extended N=(4,4) supersymmetries off-shell arXiv:0903.2376, arXiv:0912.4724. We contribute towards the understanding of the non-manifest on-shell transformations in (2,2) superspace by analyzing the extended on-shell supersymmetry of such models and find that a rather general ansatz for the additional supersymmetry (not involving central charge transformations) leads to hyperk\"ahler geometry. We give...

This thesis considers two different aspects of string theory, the tensionless limit of the string and supersymmetric sigma models. The tensionless limit is used to find a IIB supergravity background generated by a tensionless string. Quantization of the tensionless string in a pp-wave background is performed and the tensionless limit is found to commute with quantization. Further, the sigma model with N=(2,2) extended world-sheet supersymmetry is considered and the requiremen...

This is a review of the relation between supersymmetric non-linear sigma models and target space geometry. In particular, we report on the derivation of generalized K\"ahler geometry from sigma models with additional spinorial superfields. Some of the results reviewed are: Generalized complex geometry from sigma models in the Lagrangian formulation; Coordinatization of generalized K\"ahler geometry in terms of chiral, twisted chiral and semi-chiral superfields; Generalized K\...

We consider a two - dimensional Minkowski signature sigma model with a $2+N$ - dimensional target space metric having a null Killing vector. It is shown that the model is finite to all orders of the loop expansion if the dependence of the ``transverse" part of the metric $\ggij (u,x)$ on the light cone coordinate $u$ is subject to the standard renormalization group equation of the $N$ - dimensional sigma model, $ {d\ggij\over du} = \gb_{ij} =R_{ij} + ... $. In particular, we ...

In this thesis, two aspects of string theory are discussed, tensionless strings and supersymmetric sigma models. The equivalent to a massless particle in string theory is a tensionless string. Even almost 30 years after it was first mentioned, it is still quite poorly understood. We discuss how tensionless strings give rise to exact solutions to supergravity and solve closed tensionless string theory in the ten dimensional maximally supersymmetric plane wave background, a c...

The sigma model action described in this paper differs in four important features from the usual sigma model action for the four-dimensional Green-Schwarz heterotic superstring in a massless background. Firstly, the action is constructed on an N=(2,0) super-worldsheet using a Kahler potential and an Ogievetsky-Sokatchev constraint; secondly, the target-space background fields are unconstrained; thirdly, the target-space dilaton couples to the two-dimensional curvature; and fo...

N = 2 supersymmetry in four space-time dimensions is intimately related to hyperkahler and quaternionic Kahler geometries. On one hand, the target spaces for rigid supersymmetric sigma-models are necessarily hyperkahler manifolds. On the other hand, when coupled to N = 2 supergravity, the sigma-model target spaces must be quaternionic Kahler. It is known that such manifolds of restricted holonomy are difficult to generate explicitly. Projective superspace is a field-theoretic...