Generalised Fayet-Iliopoulos terms in supergravity

Abstract

The U(1) vector multiplet theory with the Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) term is one of the oldest and simplest models for spontaneously broken rigid supersymmetry. Lifting the FI term to supergravity requires gauged $R$-symmetry, as was first demonstrated in 1977 by Freedman within $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity. There exists an alternative to the standard FI mechanism, which is reviewed in this conference paper. It is obtained by replacing the FI model with a manifestly gauge-invariant action such that its functional form is determined by two arbitrary real functions of a single complex variable. One of these functions generates a superconformal kinetic term for the vector multiplet, while the other yields a generalised FI term. Coupling such a vector multiplet model to supergravity does not require gauging of the $R$-symmetry. These generalised FI terms are consistently defined for any off-shell formulation for $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity, and are compatible with a supersymmetric cosmological term.

Contribution to the Proceedings of the Workshop "Supersymmetries and Quantum Symmetries" (SQS'2019, 26 August - August 31, 2019). V2: References have been reformated into the internationally recognised standard

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