Classification, geometry and applications of supersymmetric backgrounds

We describe in detail the geometry of backgrounds of key supergravity theories, which have applications in the context of black holes, string theory, M-theory and the AdS/CFT correspondence unveiling a plethora of existence and uniqueness theorems. Some other aspects of supersymmetric solutions like the Killing superalgebras and the homogeneity theorem are also presented, and the non-existence theorem for certain smooth supergravity flux compactifications is outlined. Amongst the applications described is the proof of the emergence of conformal symmetry near black hole horizons and the classification of warped AdS backgrounds that preserve more than 16 supersymmetries.

Source: Physics Reports - December 12, 2018 Category: Physics Source Type: research