Non-supersymmetric branes

Abstract

We discuss how to incorporate non-supersymmetric branes in compactifications of type II string theories. We particularly focus on flux compactifications on $SU(3)\times SU(3)$ structure manifolds to four dimensions, so that a linear $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetry is spontaneously broken by spacetime filling Dp-branes. Anti-Dp-branes are a very special subset of such branes but our analysis is generic. We show that the backreaction of non-supersymmetric branes can be incorporated into the standard 4d $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity by including a nilpotent chiral multiplet. Supersymmetry in such setups is always spontaneously broken and non-linearly realized. In particular this means that, contrary to what was previously thought, brane supersymmetry breaking cannot be simply described by a D-term in 4d $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity theories.

30 pages; v2: references added, minor improvements. Version published in JHEP