Supergravity

Supergravity, together with string theory, is one of the most significant developments in theoretical physics. Written by two of the most respected workers in the field, this is the first-ever authoritative and systematic account of supergravity. The book starts by reviewing aspects of relativistic field theory in Minkowski spacetime. After introducing the relevant ingredients of differential geometry and gravity, some basic supergravity theories (D=4 and D=11) and the main gauge theory tools are explained. In the second half of the book, complex geometry and N=1 and N=2 supergravity theories are covered. Classical solutions and a chapter on AdS/CFT complete the book. Numerous exercises and examples make it ideal for Ph.D. students, and with applications to model building, cosmology and solutions of supergravity theories, it is also invaluable to researchers. A website hosted by the authors, featuring solutions to some exercises and additional reading material, can be found at www.cambridge.org/supergravity.

Part I. Relativistic Field Theory in Minkowski Spacetime: 1. Scalar field theory and its symmetries; 2. The Dirac field; 3. Clifford algebras and spinors; 4. The Maxwell and Yang-Mills gauge fields; 5. The free Rarita-Schwinger field; 6. N=1 global supersymmetry in D=4; Part II. Differential Geometry and Gravity: 7. Differential geometry; 8. The first and second order formulations of general relativity; Part III. Basic Supergravity: 9. N=1 pure supergravity in 4 dimensions; 10. D=11 supergravity; 11. General gauge theory; 12. Survey of supergravities; Part IV. Complex Geometry and Global SUSY: 13. Complex manifolds; 14. General actions with N=1 supersymmetry; Part V. Superconformal Construction of Supergravity Theories: 15. Gravity as a conformal gauge theory; 16. The conformal approach to N=1 supergravity; 17. Construction of the matter-coupled N=1 supergravity; Part VI. N=1 Supergravity Actions and Applications: 18. The physical N=1 matter-coupled supergravity; 19. Applications of N=1 supergravity; Part VII. Extended N=2 Supergravity: 20. Construction of the matter-coupled N=2 supergravity; 21. The physical N=2 matter-coupled supergravity; Part VIII. Classical Solutions and the AdS/CFT Correspondence: 22. Classical solutions of gravity and supergravity; 23. The AdS/CFT correspondence; Appendix; Index.

Daniel Z. Freedman is Professor of Applied Mathematics and Physics at MIT. He has made many research contributions to supersymmetry and supergravity: he was a co-discoverer of the first supergravity theory in 1976. This discovery has been recognized by the award of the Dirac Medal and Prize in 1993 and the Dannie Heineman Prize of the American Physical Society in 2006.
Antoine Van Proeyen is Head of the Theoretical Physics Section at the K.U. Leuven, Belgium. Since 1979, he has been involved in the construction of various supergravity theories, the resulting special geometries and their applications to phenomenology and cosmology.