The structure of the R^8 term in type IIB string theory

Abstract

Based on the structure of the on-shell linearized superspace of type IIB supergravity, we argue that there is a non--BPS 16 derivative interaction in the effective action of type IIB string theory of the form (t_8 t_8 R^4)^2, which we call the R^8 interaction. It lies in the same supermultiplet as the G^8 R^4 interaction. Using the KLT relation, we analyse the structure of the tree level eight graviton scattering amplitude in the type IIB theory, which leads to the R^8 interaction at the linearized level. This involves an analysis of color ordered multi-gluon disc amplitudes in the type I theory, which shows an intricate pole structure and transcendentality consistent with various other interactions. Considerations of S-duality show that the R^8 interaction receives non-analytic contributions in the string coupling at one and two loops. Apart from receiving perturbative contributions, we show that the R^8 interaction receives a non-vanishing contribution in the one D-instanton-anti-instanton background at leading order in the weak coupling expansion.

35 pages, LaTeX

References in corpus (4)

• Multi-Gluon Scattering in Open Superstring Theory
• Six Gluon Open Superstring Disk Amplitude, Multiple Hypergeometric Series and Euler-Zagier Sums
• Supersymmetry Relations and MHV Amplitudes in Superstring Theory
• Complete Six-Gluon Disk Amplitude in Superstring Theory

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• New Examples of Flux Vacua
• Constraining gravitational interactions in the M theory effective action
• Non--analytic terms from nested divergences in maximal supergravity
• Transcendentality violation in type IIB string amplitudes
• Constraining non--BPS interactions from counterterms in three loop maximal supergravity
• Poisson equations, higher derivative automorphic forms and string parameter limits
• Some finite terms from ladder diagrams in three and four loop maximal supergravity