New techniques for Gauge Theories in Projective Superspace

Abstract

We introduce new techniques for calculations in Gauge theories with extended supersymmetry. We are working in Projective Superspace where the $SU(2)$ R-symmetry is realized geometrically by including an auxilliary ${\mathbb{CP}}^1$ component in the superspace. Different gauge representations are associated with different dependence on the ${\mathbb{CP}}^1$ coordinate $\zeta$ and using contour integrals on ${\mathbb{CP}}^1$ we define natural projection operators on these different representations which leads to elegant formulas for all relevant objects. The new techniques lead to compact expressions for lagrangians and field strengths in terms of the gauge prepotential but also to effective ways of reducing superspace expressions to components, i.e. to write them in terms of fields transforming covariantly only under a subgroup of the supersymmetry group. We illustrate our findings in several examples in three and four dimensions.

41 pages; v2: references added