Search

In the thesis, I will prove new extension results to obtain pseudo-Riemannian manifolds of dimension n endowed with a Killing spinor, starting from a manifold of dimension n-1 or n-3 with appropriate additional structure. I will also prove a generalization to the smooth, indefinite setting of a known result on the diagonalization of metrics on a 3-dimensional manifold., I will present a construction that revolves around $\lie{z}$-standard Lie algebras, which are standard Lie algebras $\lie{g}\rtimes\Span{e_0}$ endowed with a Sasaki structure $(g,\xi,\eta,\phi)$ such that $\phi(e_0)$ lies in the center $\lie{z}$ of $\mathfrak{g}$. There are two main results. The first one guarantees that a suitable central extension $\mathfrak{g}$ of a nilpotent pseudo-K\""ahler Lie algebra $\check{\mathfrak{g}}$, admitting a derivation $\check{D}\in\text{Der}(\check{\mathfrak{g}})$ commuting with the complex structure and satisfying an additional technical condition, extends to a $\mathfrak{z}$-standard Sasaki Lie algebra of the form $\mathfrak{g}\rtimes_D\mathbb{R}$, where $D$ is a derivation of $\mathfrak{g}$ extending $\check{D}$. The second result specializes the first one to obtain $\mathfrak{z}$-standard pseudo-Sasaki-Einstein Lie algebras. I will also classify $\lie{z}$-standard Sasaki Lie algebras up to dimension 7 obtained extending abelian pseudo-K\""ahler Lie algebras, Einstein-Sasaki $\lie{z}$-standard Lie algebras up to dimension 7, and present examples of the construction in dimension 9., Moreover, I prove an extension result in the non-invariant, analytic setting. I obtain a pseudo-Riemannian spin manifold carrying a Killing spinor by extending a manifold endowed with a real or imaginary harmful structure, i.e., a pair of spinors $(\psi,\phi)$ satisfying a coupled PDE system involving a symmetric endomorphism $A$ which is additionally required to satisfy $d\tr A+\delta A=0$. I prove that the metric of the manifold extends to an Einstein metric, in a space-like or time-like direction, depending on the harmful structure, whether it is real or imaginary, respectively. I point out that, in the definite setting, the condition on the endomorphism can be dropped. I then define the Killing spinor by extending the harmful structure by parallel transport., Finally, I prove that it is always possible to diagonalize the metric of a smooth, Lorentzian, 3-dimensional manifold by applying the technique of moving frames. I show that the existence of coordinates that diagonalize the metric is equivalent to the existence of a coframe satisfying a specific PDE system, hence I prove that the system is diagonal hyperbolic and that the associated Cauchy problem admits non-characteristic initial data.

General $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ supergravity-matter systems in six dimensions may be described using one of the two fully fledged superspace formulations for conformal supergravity: (i) $\mathsf{SU}(2)$ superspace; and (ii) conformal superspace. With motivation to develop rigid supersymmetric field theories in curved space, this paper is devoted to the study of the geometric symmetries of supergravity backgrounds. In particular, we introduce the notion of a conformal Killing spinor superfield $\epsilon^\alpha$, which proves to generate extended superconformal transformations. Among its cousins are the conformal Killing vector $\xi^a$ and tensor $\zeta^{a(n)}$ superfields. The former parametrise conformal isometries of supergravity backgrounds, which in turn yield symmetries of every superconformal field theory. Meanwhile, the conformal Killing tensors of a given background are associated with higher symmetries of the hypermultiplet. By studying the higher symmetries of a non-conformal vector multiplet we introduce the concept of a Killing tensor superfield. We also analyse the problem of computing higher symmetries for the conformal d'Alembertian in curved space and demonstrate that, beyond the first-order case, these operators are defined only on conformally flat backgrounds., Comment: 62 pages

We classify all supersymmetric solutions of minimal D=4 gauged supergravity with (2,2) signature and a positive cosmological constant which admit exactly one Killing spinor. This classification produces a geometric structure which is more general than that found for previous classifications of N=2 supersymmetric solutions of this theory. We illustrate how the N=2 solutions which consist of a fibration over a 3-dimensional Lorentzian Gauduchon-Tod base space can be written in terms of this more generic geometric structure., 20 pages, latex

Extreme near-horizon geometries in D=11 supergravity preserving four supersymmetries are classified. It is shown that the Killing spinors fall into three possible orbits, corresponding to pairs of spinors defined on the spatial cross-sections of the horizon which have isotropy groups SU(3), G2, or SU(4). In each case, the conditions on the geometry and the 4-form flux are determined. The integrability conditions obtained from the Killing spinor equations are also investigated., 34 pages, latex

We introduce a notion of Ricci flow in generalized geometry, extending a previous definition by Gualtieri on exact Courant algebroids. Special stationary points of the flow are given by solutions to first-order differential equations, the Killing spinor equations, which encompass special holonomy metrics with solutions of the Hull-Strominger system. Our main result investigates a method to produce new solutions of the Ricci flow and the Killing spinor equations. For this, we consider T-duality between possibly topologically distinct torus bundles endowed with Courant structures, and demonstrate that solutions of the equations are exchanged under this symmetry. As applications, we give a mathematical explanation of the dilaton shift in string theory and prove that the Hull-Strominger system is preserved by T-duality., Comment: 38 pages, added details to the proof of Proposition 4.1, new Remark 4.6 and Example 4.10, to appear in Advances in Mathematics

We construct a global geometric model for the bosonic sector and Killing spinor equations of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity coupled to a chiral non-linear sigma model and a Spin$^{c}_0$ structure. The model involves a Lorentzian metric $g$ on a four-manifold $M$, a complex chiral spinor and a map $\varphi\colon M\to \mathcal{M}$ from $M$ to a complex manifold $\mathcal{M}$ endowed with a novel geometric structure which we call chiral triple. Using this geometric model, we show that if $M$ is spin the K\"ahler-Hodge condition on a complex manifold $\mathcal{M}$ is enough to guarantee the existence of an associated $\mathcal{N}=1$ chiral geometric supergravity, positively answering a conjecture proposed by D. Z. Freedman and A. V. Proeyen. We dimensionally reduce the Killing spinor equations to a Riemann surface $X$, obtaining a novel system of partial differential equations for a harmonic map with potential $\varphi\colon X\to \mathcal{M}$ from $X$ into the K\"ahler moduli space $\mathcal{M}$ of the theory. We characterize all Riemann surfaces admitting supersymmetric solutions with vanishing superpotential, proving that they consist on holomorphic maps of Riemann surfaces into $\mathcal{M}$ satisfying certain compatibility condition with respect to the canonical bundle of $X$ and the chiral triple of the theory. Furthermore, we classify the biholomorphism type of all Riemann surfaces carrying supersymmetric solutions with complete Riemannian metric and finite-energy scalar map., Comment: 41 pages. Minor revision, typos fixed

In this article, we study the instanton equation on the cylinder over a closed manifold X which admits non-zero smooth 3-form P and 4-form Q. Our results are (1) if X is a good manifold, i.e., P, Q satisfying $$d*_{X}P=d*_{X}Q=0$$, then the instanton with integrable curvature decays exponentially at the ends, and, (2) if X is a real Killing spinor manifold, i.e., P, Q satisfying $$dP=4Q$$ and $$d*_{X}Q=(n-3)*_{X}P$$, we prove that the solution of instanton equation is trivial under some mild conditions.

In general, geometries of Petrov type II do not admit symmetries in terms of Killing vectors or spinors. We introduce a weaker form of Killing equations which do admit solutions. In particular, there is an analog of the Penrose–Walker Killing spinor. Some of its properties, including associated conservation laws, are discussed. Perturbations of Petrov type II Einstein geometries in terms of a complex scalar Debye potential yield complex solutions to the linearized Einstein equations. The complex linearized Weyl tensor is shown to be half Petrov type N. The remaining curvature component on the algebraically special side is reduced to a first order differential operator acting on the potential.

We construct the 4-dimensional ${\cal N}=\frac12$ and ${\cal N}=1$ inhomogeneously mass-deformed super Yang-Mills theories from the ${\cal N} =1^*$ and ${\cal N} =2^*$ theories, respectively, and analyse their supersymmetric vacua. The inhomogeneity is attributed to the dependence of background fluxes in the type IIB supergravity on a single spatial coordinate. This gives rise to inhomogeneous mass functions in the ${\cal N} =4$ super Yang-Mills theory which describes the dynamics of D3-branes. The Killing spinor equations for those inhomogeneous theories lead to the supersymmetric vacuum equation and a boundary condition. We investigate two types of solutions in the $ {\cal N}=\frac12$ theory, corresponding to the cases of asymptotically constant mass functions and periodic mass functions. For the former case, the boundary condition gives a relation between the parameters of two possibly distinct vacua at the asymptotic boundaries. Brane interpretations for corresponding vacuum solutions in type IIB supergravity are also discussed. For the latter case, we obtain explicit forms of the periodic vacuum solutions., Comment: 22 pages

We show that the Killing spinor equations of all supergravity theories which may include higher order corrections on a (r,s)-signature spacetime are associated with twisted covariant form hierarchies. These hierarchies are characterized by a connection on the space of forms which may not be degree preserving. As a consequence we demonstrate that the form Killing spinor bi-linears of all supersymmetric backgrounds satisfy a suitable generalization of conformal Killing-Yano equation with respect to this connection. To illustrate the general proof the twisted covariant form hierarchies of some supergravity theories in 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11 dimensions are also presented., Comment: 15 pages, minor corrections, a reference added

This paper is devoted to the classification of 4-dimensional Riemannian spin manifolds carrying skew Killing spinors. A skew Killing spinor $$\psi $$ ψ is a spinor that satisfies the equation $$\nabla _X\psi =AX\cdot \psi $$ ∇ X ψ = A X · ψ with a skew-symmetric endomorphism A. We consider the degenerate case, where the rank of A is at most two everywhere and the non-degenerate case, where the rank of A is four everywhere. We prove that in the degenerate case the manifold is locally isometric to the Riemannian product $${\mathbb {R}}\times N$$ R × N with N having a skew Killing spinor and we explain under which conditions on the spinor the special case of a local isometry to $${\mathbb {S}}^2\times {\mathbb {R}}^2$$ S 2 × R 2 occurs. In the non-degenerate case, the existence of skew Killing spinors is related to doubly warped products whose defining data we will describe.

In four spacetime dimensions, all ${\cal N} =1$ supergravity-matter systems can be formulated in the so-called $\mathsf{U}(1)$ superspace proposed by Howe in 1981. This paper is devoted to the study of those geometric structures which characterise a background $\mathsf{U}(1)$ superspace and are important in the context of supersymmetric field theory in curved space. We introduce (conformal) Killing tensor superfields $\ell_{(\alpha_1 \dots \alpha_m) ({\dot \alpha}_1 \dots {\dot \alpha}_n)}$, with $m$ and $n$ non-negative integers, $m+n>0$, and elaborate on their significance in the following cases: (i) $m=n=1$; (ii) $m-1=n=0$; and (iii) $m=n>1$. The (conformal) Killing vector superfields $\ell_{\alpha \dot \alpha}$ generate the (conformal) isometries of curved superspace, which are symmetries of every (conformal) supersymmetric field theory. The (conformal) Killing spinor superfields $\ell_{\alpha }$ generate extended (conformal) supersymmetry transformations. The (conformal) Killing tensor superfields with $m=n>1$ prove to generate all higher symmetries of the (massless) massive Wess-Zumino operator., Comment: 58 pages; V2: typos corrected, references added

We construct explicit examples of non-relativistic supersymmetric field theories on curved Newton-Cartan three-manifolds. These results are obtained by performing a null reduction of four-dimensional supersymmetric field theories on Lorentzian manifolds and the Killing spinor equations that their supersymmetry parameters obey. This gives rise to a set of algebraic and differential Killing spinor equations that are obeyed by the supersymmetry parameters of the resulting three-dimensional non-relativistic field theories. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions that determine whether a Newton-Cartan background admits non-trivial solutions of these Killing spinor equations. Two classes of examples of Newton-Cartan backgrounds that obey these conditions are discussed. The first class is characterised by an integrable foliation, corresponding to so-called twistless torsional geometries, and includes manifolds whose spatial slices are isomorphic to the Poincar\'e disc. The second class of examples has a non-integrable foliation structure and corresponds to contact manifolds., Comment: 43 pages

We develop a new framework for the study of generalized Killing spinors, where generalized Killing spinor equations, possibly with constraints, can be formulated equivalently as systems of partial differential equations for a polyform satisfying algebraic relations in the K\"ahler-Atiyah bundle constructed by quantizing the exterior algebra bundle of the underlying manifold. At the core of this framework lies the characterization, which we develop in detail, of the image of the spinor squaring map of an irreducible Clifford module $\Sigma$ of real type as a real algebraic variety in the K\"ahler-Atiyah algebra, which gives necessary and sufficient conditions for a polyform to be the square of a real spinor. We apply these results to Lorentzian four-manifolds, obtaining a new description of a real spinor on such a manifold through a certain distribution of parabolic 2-planes in its cotangent bundle. We use this result to give global characterizations of real Killing spinors on Lorentzian four-manifolds and of four-dimensional supersymmetric configurations of heterotic supergravity. In particular, we find new families of Einstein and non-Einstein four-dimensional Lorentzian metrics admitting real Killing spinors, some of which are deformations of the metric of AdS$_4$ space-time., Comment: 56 pages

We present a result for non-compact manifolds with invertible Dirac operator, where we link the presence of a massless Killing spinor, with a harmonic, closed conformal Killing-Yano tensor, if one exists for the specic manifold. A couple of examples are introduced., 9 pages

The motion of membranes interacting with external fields in space-times with curvature and torsion is considered. The intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the immersion are fused together to form a stress tensor for the corresponding material hypersurface. This geometro-elastic stress tensor is part of the total stress tensor by which it looses the symmetry and divergenceless properties because of the existence of torsion. The equation of motion of the membrane is given by equating the total stress tensor to a non-zero value determined by the curvature and torsion of the ambient space-time. Dirac and \"Onder-Tucker bubbles are considered as special cases. An example of the membrane motion on a manifold admitting a generalized Killing spinor is given., Comment: 20 pages

We consider the problem of finding all space-time metrics for which all plane-wave Penrose limits are diagonalisable plane waves. This requirement leads to a conformally invariant differential condition on the Weyl spinor which we analyse for different algebraic types in the Petrov-Pirani-Penrose classification. The only vacuum examples, apart from actual plane waves which are their own Penrose limit, are some of the nonrotating type D metrics, but some nonvacuum solutions are also identified. The condition requires the Weyl spinor, whenever it is nonzero, to be proportional to a valence-4 Killing spinor with a real function of proportionality., Comment: 13 pages, no figures; revised version as accepted in Class.Quant.Grav

We consider the effective action of the Heterotic Superstring to first order in alpha prime and derive the necessary and sufficient conditions that a field configuration has to satisfy in order to admit at least one Killing spinor using the spinor bilinear method and making minimal coordinate and frame choices. As a previous step in this derivation, we compute the complete spinor bilinear algebra using the Fierz identities, obtaining as a by-product the algebra satisfied by the Spin(7) structure contained in the bilinears in an arbitrary basis. We find the relations existing between the left-hand-sides of the bosonic equations of motion evaluated on supersymmetric field configurations using the Killing Spinor Identities instead of the (far more complicated) integrability conditions of the Killing Spinor Equations as it is common in the literature. We show how to include the Kalb-Ramond's Bianchi identity in the Killing Spinor Identities., Comment: LaTeX2e file, 49 pages, no figures. An error in the derivation of necessary conditions for unbroken supersymmetry and a few typos have been corrected

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Grants GA19-06357S, GAUK 700217 and SVV-2017-260456.

We construct the space of infinitesimal variations for the Strominger system and an obstruction space to integrability, using elliptic operator theory. We initiate the study of the geometry of the moduli space, describing the infinitesimal structure of a natural foliation on this space. The associated leaves are related to generalized geometry and correspond to moduli spaces of solutions of suitable Killing spinor equations on a Courant algebroid. As an application, we propose a unifying framework for metrics with holonomy SU(3) and solutions of the Strominger system., This Project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 655162. This work is partially supported by an ESF—Short Visit Grant 5717 within the framework of the ITGP network. MGF is supported by a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant and was initially supported by ICMAT Severo Ochoa Project SEV-2011-0087 and by the École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne. RR is supported by IMPA and was initially supported by QGM through its partnership with the Mathematical Institute of Oxford. CT is partially supported by Agence Nationale de la Recherche—ANR Project EMARKS.