Arguments Against a Finite N=8 Supergravity

Abstract

I present arguments based on dispersion theory and the existence of charged BPS states of small charge, that maximally supersymmetric SUGRA is not a finite theory. The essence of the argument is that the perturbative construction of the theory implies that scattering amplitudes are invariant under a continuous SU(8) global symmetry, which is broken by contributions from virtual BPS states. Conventional estimates of the contributions of those states above production threshold, shows that they should be order one. If the amplitude satisfies a dispersion relation with a finite number of subtractions, as has recently been argued by Giddings and Porto [1], then SU(8) violating amplitudes appear at finite orders in the low energy expansion. We also make a brief remark about the inconsistency of the idea of classicalization in non-gravitational theories.

LaTeX2e . 15 pages

References in corpus (22)

• The holographic principle
• The Ultraviolet Behavior of N=8 Supergravity at Four Loops
• Holography and Cosmology
• Simplifying Multiloop Integrands and Ultraviolet Divergences of Gauge Theory and Gravity Amplitudes
• E7(7) constraints on counterterms in N=8 supergravity
• Absence of Three-Loop Four-Point Divergences in N=4 Supergravity
• Ultraviolet properties of Maximal Supergravity
• The gravitational S-matrix
• Stringy KLT relations, global symmetries, and E_7(7) violation
• A simple approach to counterterms in N=8 supergravity
• On duality symmetries of supergravity invariants
• E7(7) symmetry in perturbatively quantised N=8 supergravity
• Decoupling Supergravity from the Superstring
• R^4 counterterm and E7(7) symmetry in maximal supergravity
• E{7(7)} Symmetry and Finiteness of N=8 Supergravity
• Trouble For Remnants
• N=8 Counterterms and E7(7) Current Conservation
• N=8 Supergravity on the Light Cone
• Perturbative and Non-perturbative N =8 Supergravity
• The critical ultraviolet behaviour of N=8 supergravity amplitudes
• A note on N=8 counterterms
• On Absence of 3-loop Divergence in N=4 Supergravity

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Conformal Symmetry in Field Theory and in Quantum Gravity
• Holographic Space-time, Newton's Law and the Dynamics of Black Holes
• Challenges of D=6 N=(1,1) SYM Theory
• Backreaction of Localised Sources in String Compactifications
• Accelerating Solitons
• New Sum Rules from Low Energy Compton Scattering on Arbitrary Spin Target
• Instanton-soliton loops in 5D super-Yang-Mills
• Divergences in maximal supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories in diverse dimensions